Many said that Britain's interests in obtaining Libyan oil was the prime motivation in the recent release of the Lockerbie bomber on humanitarian grounds.
The suggestion was met with indignation by the UK's Foreign Secretary.
The TimesOnLine now reports in "Lockerbie bomber 'set free for oil'" that, yes indeed, political considerations, principally access to oil in Libya, drove the deal to release the convicted bomber.
"The British government decided it was “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom” to make Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, eligible for return to Libya, leaked ministerial letters reveal.
Gordon Brown’s government made the decision after discussions between Libya and BP over a multi-million-pound oil exploration deal had hit difficulties. These were resolved soon afterwards.
The letters were sent two years ago by Jack Straw, the justice secretary, to Kenny MacAskill, his counterpart in Scotland, who has been widely criticised for taking the formal decision to permit Megrahi’s release.
The correspondence makes it plain that the key decision to include Megrahi in a deal with Libya to allow prisoners to return home was, in fact, taken in London for British national interests."
The suggestion was met with indignation by the UK's Foreign Secretary.
The TimesOnLine now reports in "Lockerbie bomber 'set free for oil'" that, yes indeed, political considerations, principally access to oil in Libya, drove the deal to release the convicted bomber.
"The British government decided it was “in the overwhelming interests of the United Kingdom” to make Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, eligible for return to Libya, leaked ministerial letters reveal.
Gordon Brown’s government made the decision after discussions between Libya and BP over a multi-million-pound oil exploration deal had hit difficulties. These were resolved soon afterwards.
The letters were sent two years ago by Jack Straw, the justice secretary, to Kenny MacAskill, his counterpart in Scotland, who has been widely criticised for taking the formal decision to permit Megrahi’s release.
The correspondence makes it plain that the key decision to include Megrahi in a deal with Libya to allow prisoners to return home was, in fact, taken in London for British national interests."
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