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No bomber release cover-up - PM No bomber release cover-up - PM
(10 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said there was "no conspiracy" leading to the release of the Lockerbie bomber.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said there was "no conspiracy" leading to the release of the Lockerbie bomber.
He added there had also been "no cover-up" over the UK's dealings with the Scottish or Libyan governments.He added there had also been "no cover-up" over the UK's dealings with the Scottish or Libyan governments.
The bomber, Libyan Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, was released earlier this month by the Scottish government on compassionate grounds.The bomber, Libyan Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, was released earlier this month by the Scottish government on compassionate grounds.
Mr Brown said there was "no linkage" between UK commercial interests and the decision to free Megrahi.Mr Brown said there was "no linkage" between UK commercial interests and the decision to free Megrahi.
But he said that the UK was constantly seeking to combat international terrorism and halt nuclear proliferation - both aims which were helped by Libya's return to the international fold.But he said that the UK was constantly seeking to combat international terrorism and halt nuclear proliferation - both aims which were helped by Libya's return to the international fold.
'No assurances''No assurances'
Megrahi was freed earlier this month, eight years into a life sentence imposed for his part in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in December 1988, killing 270 people.Megrahi was freed earlier this month, eight years into a life sentence imposed for his part in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in December 1988, killing 270 people.
The Scottish government, which deals with criminal justice matters in Scotland, said the decision had been made on compassionate grounds, as Megrahi has terminal cancer.The Scottish government, which deals with criminal justice matters in Scotland, said the decision had been made on compassionate grounds, as Megrahi has terminal cancer.
On Tuesday, Scottish officials released documents which included a report that a Libyan official had said Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell had told them Mr Brown did not want the Lockerbie bomber to die in a Scottish prison. PAN AM FLIGHT 103 21 Dec 1988: Plane explodes at 31,000ft 259 people on board are killed11 people killed on the ground in Lockerbie class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6236538.stm">Timeline: Lockerbie bombing class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2009/09/plenty_to_talk.html">Read Nick Robinson's blog
But the release was opposed by the US government and Megrahi's return to Libya, amid triumphant scenes, caused widespread anger in the UK and US.
On Tuesday, Scottish officials released a report saying a Libyan official had said Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell had told them Mr Brown did not want the Lockerbie bomber to die in a Scottish prison.
Mr Rammell has since confirmed he told Libya Mr Brown did not want to see Megrahi die in prison. However, he denied having discussed this with Gordon Brown.Mr Rammell has since confirmed he told Libya Mr Brown did not want to see Megrahi die in prison. However, he denied having discussed this with Gordon Brown.
Speaking in Birmingham, Mr Brown said: "There was no conspiracy, no cover-up, no double dealing, no deal on oil, no attempt to instruct Scottish ministers, no private assurances by me to [Libyan leader] Colonel Gaddafi."Speaking in Birmingham, Mr Brown said: "There was no conspiracy, no cover-up, no double dealing, no deal on oil, no attempt to instruct Scottish ministers, no private assurances by me to [Libyan leader] Colonel Gaddafi."
He said the release of Megrahi was a matter for the Scottish government.He said the release of Megrahi was a matter for the Scottish government.
Mr Brown also said: "Our interest throughout has been to strengthen the coalition against international terrorism. I made it clear that for us there was never a linkage between any other issue and the Scottish government's own decision about Megrahi's future. Mr Brown also said: "Our interest throughout has been to strengthen the coalition against international terrorism. I made it clear that for us there was never a linkage between any other issue and the Scottish government's own decision about Megrahi's future."
"I respect the right of Scottish ministers to make the decision... but on our part there was no conspiracy, no cover-up, no double-dealing, no deal on oil, no attempt to instruct Scottish ministers, no private assurances by me to Colonel Gaddafi." 'Absolutely clear'
Conservative leader David Cameron told the BBC it had been a "misjudgement" to "treat in any way with the Libyans about the future of Mr Megrahi". Conservative leader David Cameron told the BBC's Today programme on Wednesday it had been a "misjudgement" to "treat in any way with the Libyans about the future of Mr Megrahi".
He added: "This man was convicted of the largest mass murder in British history and if the conviction is in some way unsafe that should be appealed and reviewed but he was convicted of that and they shouldn't have been treating with the Libyans on that basis."He added: "This man was convicted of the largest mass murder in British history and if the conviction is in some way unsafe that should be appealed and reviewed but he was convicted of that and they shouldn't have been treating with the Libyans on that basis."
Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill allowed Megrahi to be freed from Greenock Prison on 20 August on compassionate grounds after rejecting his return to Libya under a prisoner transfer agreement.Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill allowed Megrahi to be freed from Greenock Prison on 20 August on compassionate grounds after rejecting his return to Libya under a prisoner transfer agreement.
Mr Brown and other UK ministers have declined to say whether they supported freeing Megrahi, stressing it was a decision for the Scottish government.Mr Brown and other UK ministers have declined to say whether they supported freeing Megrahi, stressing it was a decision for the Scottish government.