Lockerbie bomber’s release: ‘Britain had oil deal on mind’

Britain agreed to include Abdel al-Megrahi in a prisoner transfer deal with Libya because of overwhelming interests shortly before an oil deal was sealed with Tripoli,a media report said.

Britain agreed to include Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi in a prisoner transfer deal with Libya because of overwhelming interests shortly before an oil deal was sealed with Tripoli,a newspaper reported on Sunday.

The ‘Sunday Times’ said leaked letters from Justice Secretary Jack Straw undermined government denials of a link between the former Libyan agents freedom and British trade interests.

Megrahi,57,was released on compassionate grounds on August 20 after he was diagnosed with cancer.

The release of the only person convicted in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie that killed 270,and his warm reception in Tripoli,has angered the US,which lost 189 citizens.

The ‘Sunday Times’ said two letters from Straw,dated five months apart,showed he reversed an original plan to exclude Megrahi from a prisoner transfer agreement that was being discussed with Libya.

The paper said the change of heart appeared to be linked to a stalled $900 million oil and gas exploration deal with Libya for British oil giant BP that was ratified a few weeks later. BP has denied any link between the deal and the prisoner agreement.

Straw wrote to Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill in July 2007 to say he favoured excluding Megrahi from the prisoner transfer,an arrangement desired by the Scottish administration which has autonomous powers over most criminal matters. But by December 2007 he told MacAskill his position had changed.

Story continues below this ad

The wider negotiations with the Libyans are reaching a critical stage and,in view of the overwhelming interests for the UK,I have agreed that in this instance the (prisoner transfer agreement) should be in the standard form and not mention any individual, the Sunday Times quoted Straw as writing. Cabinet minister John Denham told Sky News it was clear there was no link between Megrahi and trade deals,given that Scotland released him on compassionate grounds and not under the transfer pact.