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| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Gaddafi son resists IRA pay-out | Gaddafi son resists IRA pay-out |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Colonel Gaddafi's son has said Libya will resist demands from the families of IRA victims for compensation. | Colonel Gaddafi's son has said Libya will resist demands from the families of IRA victims for compensation. |
| Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said any claims for compensation based on Libya's supply of explosives to the IRA would be a matter for the courts. | Saif al-Islam Gaddafi said any claims for compensation based on Libya's supply of explosives to the IRA would be a matter for the courts. |
| He told Sky News: "They have their lawyers, we have our lawyers." | He told Sky News: "They have their lawyers, we have our lawyers." |
| It has emerged that Gordon Brown had declined to put formal pressure on Libya for compensation. He has said the UK will support families making claims. | It has emerged that Gordon Brown had declined to put formal pressure on Libya for compensation. He has said the UK will support families making claims. |
| Speaking about the looming British attempts to claim compensation, the Libyan leader's son said: "Anyone can knock on our door. You go to the court." | Speaking about the looming British attempts to claim compensation, the Libyan leader's son said: "Anyone can knock on our door. You go to the court." |
| Ministers' letters | Ministers' letters |
| And when asked if his answer to the compensation demand would be "no" in the first instance, he replied: "Of course." | And when asked if his answer to the compensation demand would be "no" in the first instance, he replied: "Of course." |
| The response by Mr Gaddafi - seen by many as the most likely successor to his father's leadership - was welcomed by campaigners as a sign of Libyan "engagement". | The response by Mr Gaddafi - seen by many as the most likely successor to his father's leadership - was welcomed by campaigners as a sign of Libyan "engagement". |
| Lawyer Jason McCue, who represents some of the victims, said: "It means they have decided to engage with us whereas previously there was no engagement. | Lawyer Jason McCue, who represents some of the victims, said: "It means they have decided to engage with us whereas previously there was no engagement. |
| IRA victims' lawyer Jason McCue:"PM has made the right decision" | IRA victims' lawyer Jason McCue:"PM has made the right decision" |
| "We always expected this to go to the courts and now it means there will be a process to getting compensation." | "We always expected this to go to the courts and now it means there will be a process to getting compensation." |
| In the latest row to follow the release of the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, by the Scottish government, the Sunday Times published ministers' letters to campaigners for IRA victims, which were sent last year. | In the latest row to follow the release of the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, by the Scottish government, the Sunday Times published ministers' letters to campaigners for IRA victims, which were sent last year. |
| In them Mr Brown wrote that the government did not "consider it appropriate to enter into a bilateral discussion with Libya on this matter". | In them Mr Brown wrote that the government did not "consider it appropriate to enter into a bilateral discussion with Libya on this matter". |
| But on Sunday the PM announced that he was setting up a dedicated Foreign Office team to assist the IRA families' victims - ministers have denied it was a U-turn but opposition leaders say it has left Britain looking "weak". | But on Sunday the PM announced that he was setting up a dedicated Foreign Office team to assist the IRA families' victims - ministers have denied it was a U-turn but opposition leaders say it has left Britain looking "weak". |
| 'No U-turn' | 'No U-turn' |
| Schools Secretary Ed Balls told the BBC: "It's not a U-turn because as I understand it what Gordon Brown said last night is the same as he said to families [in the past]." | Schools Secretary Ed Balls told the BBC: "It's not a U-turn because as I understand it what Gordon Brown said last night is the same as he said to families [in the past]." |
| He added that it had not been possible to pursue a "government-led case for compensation" as Britain had already agreed with Libya to "recognise what had happened in the past, put it behind us and move on". | He added that it had not been possible to pursue a "government-led case for compensation" as Britain had already agreed with Libya to "recognise what had happened in the past, put it behind us and move on". |
| The entire fabric of the extraordinarily difficult relationship between Libya and the UK is coming unravelled Nick RobinsonBBC political editor href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2009/09/uks_unravelling_relationship_with_libya.html">Read Nick's blog in full | |
| He said there had been an attempt to get a government agreement in 2004 for compensation for both the IRA and Lockerbie victims. | He said there had been an attempt to get a government agreement in 2004 for compensation for both the IRA and Lockerbie victims. |
| "That couldn't be negotiated and the judgement the government made and still makes, is that to attempt to do so now, would both not succeed and sour and damage a relationship which is not about economics or oil is actually about working together to make sure British people are safe from international terrorism." | "That couldn't be negotiated and the judgement the government made and still makes, is that to attempt to do so now, would both not succeed and sour and damage a relationship which is not about economics or oil is actually about working together to make sure British people are safe from international terrorism." |
| Mr Balls also implied that British ministers had not wanted the Lockerbie bomber released telling the BBC: "I have to say that none of us wanted to see the release of [Abdelbaset Ali] al-Megrahi. But that wasn't a judgement made by the British government it was a decision made by the Scottish executive." | Mr Balls also implied that British ministers had not wanted the Lockerbie bomber released telling the BBC: "I have to say that none of us wanted to see the release of [Abdelbaset Ali] al-Megrahi. But that wasn't a judgement made by the British government it was a decision made by the Scottish executive." |
| But shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "It is a very partial U-turn it is not exactly clear what is going to happen, what support is going to be provided for the families looking for compensation of terrorism in Northern Ireland. | But shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "It is a very partial U-turn it is not exactly clear what is going to happen, what support is going to be provided for the families looking for compensation of terrorism in Northern Ireland. |
| "I think it is time he [Gordon Brown] changed his position that it's not appropriate for the British government to raise this directly with the Libyan government." | "I think it is time he [Gordon Brown] changed his position that it's not appropriate for the British government to raise this directly with the Libyan government." |
| He added it would be "very strange" for the British government to helping the families involved but for ministers, in discussions with their Libyan counterparts, not to mention it. | He added it would be "very strange" for the British government to helping the families involved but for ministers, in discussions with their Libyan counterparts, not to mention it. |