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Lockerbie bomber Megrahi makes appeal claims in book | Lockerbie bomber Megrahi makes appeal claims in book |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Lockerbie bomber has claimed he was urged to drop an appeal against his conviction to allow him to be released early from prison. | The Lockerbie bomber has claimed he was urged to drop an appeal against his conviction to allow him to be released early from prison. |
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi made the claim in a new biography. | |
He said he was told the suggestion came in a private meeting between a Libyan official, Abdulati al-Obedi, and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. | |
The Scottish government has categorically denied doing any deal with Megrahi over his release. | The Scottish government has categorically denied doing any deal with Megrahi over his release. |
The Libyan - the only man to be convicted of the 1988 atrocity - dropped his appeal against conviction in August 2009 and later the same month he was freed by Mr MacAskill on compassionate grounds due to his inoperable cancer. | |
In a biography just published, Megrahi claims he was told dropping the appeal would enhance his chances of gaining compassionate release. | In a biography just published, Megrahi claims he was told dropping the appeal would enhance his chances of gaining compassionate release. |
The book states that Mr MacAskill met a delegation of Libyan officials 10 days before announcing his decision, including foreign minister Abdulati al-Obedi. | |
In the book, Megrahi claimed: "After the meeting, the Libyan delegation came to the prison to visit me. | |
"Obedi said that, towards the end of the meeting, MacAskill had asked to speak to him in private. | |
"Once the others had withdrawn, he stated that MacAskill gave him to understand that it would be easier to grant compassionate release if I dropped my appeal. | |
"He said he was not demanding that I do so, but the message seemed to me clear. | |
"I was legally entitled to continue the appeal, but I could not risk doing so. It meant abandoning my quest for justice." | |
A Scottish government spokesman said: "We can say categorically that neither the Scottish Government had any involvement of any kind in Mr Al-Megrahi dropping his appeal, or indeed any interest in it. | A Scottish government spokesman said: "We can say categorically that neither the Scottish Government had any involvement of any kind in Mr Al-Megrahi dropping his appeal, or indeed any interest in it. |
"That was entirely a matter for Mr Al-Megrahi and his legal team." | |
Express forgiveness | Express forgiveness |
Meanwhile, a BBC Scotland Investigation to be screened on Monday evening reveals new evidence about the fragment of timer found in a Roxburghshire forest which was crucial to Megrahi's conviction. | |
The evidence was never revealed to his lawyers and campaigners claim it could have significantly affected the verdict of the trial judges. | The evidence was never revealed to his lawyers and campaigners claim it could have significantly affected the verdict of the trial judges. |
The programme also sees Megrahi express forgiveness for the man whose evidence was crucial in finding him guilty. | The programme also sees Megrahi express forgiveness for the man whose evidence was crucial in finding him guilty. |
Maltese shopkeeper Tony Gauci identified him as purchasing clothes found packed around the bomb. | Maltese shopkeeper Tony Gauci identified him as purchasing clothes found packed around the bomb. |
His evidence linked Megrahi with the explosion in which 270 people died. | His evidence linked Megrahi with the explosion in which 270 people died. |
Megrahi, 59, denies buying the clothes, but in the interview to be shown on BBC Scotland he said he forgave Mr Gauci. | Megrahi, 59, denies buying the clothes, but in the interview to be shown on BBC Scotland he said he forgave Mr Gauci. |
"I'll tell him he dealt with me very wrongly," he said. | "I'll tell him he dealt with me very wrongly," he said. |
"I have never seen him in my entire life except when he came to the court. | "I have never seen him in my entire life except when he came to the court. |
"I find him a very simple man. But I do forgive him." | "I find him a very simple man. But I do forgive him." |
BBC Scotland Investigates 2012 - Lockerbie - The Lost Evidence is being shown on BBC1 Scotland at 19:30 on Monday. | BBC Scotland Investigates 2012 - Lockerbie - The Lost Evidence is being shown on BBC1 Scotland at 19:30 on Monday. |