Alex Salmond told US senators they should direct questions about a prisoner transfer agreement for the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing at former prime minister Tony Blair.
The First Minister has also accused a Tory MP of calling for Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi to be used as a foreign policy bargaining chip. His comments followed a weekend of renewed questions in the US and London about the decision to return Megrahi to Libya. Salmond said a Senate hearing should call the former prime minister to give evidence about the “deal in the desert” which paved the way for BP to invest £450 million in exploring Libya’s oil reserves.
Almost a year after Megrahi, who is suffering from prostate cancer, was freed on compassionate grounds by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, a group of Democratic senators is demanding an inquiry into claims the oil giant lobbied for his release to smooth a deal. An influential Senate committee is also to examine the case.
A spokesman for Salmond said: “If the US Senate wants to get the truth about the deal in the desert by the UK and Libyan governments in 2007, they should call Tony Blair to give evidence. Blair was its architect – he would be the one who knows about an oil deal.”
Salmond’s spokesman dismissed a call for a UK Government inquiry by Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski, chairman of Westminster’s all-party group on Libya. He has written to David Cameron asking how the Scottish Government can be held to account and asking for more information on UK Government involvement.
Salmond’s spokesman said: “As far as Daniel Kawczynski is concerned, he wrote to the Justice Secretary in August last year saying that al-Megrahi should be used as a foreign policy bargaining chip, which is as extraordinary as it is inappropriate in relation to determining applications for prisoner transfer or compassionate release.”
The issue threatens to overshadow David Cameron’s first visit to Washington as Prime Minister tomorrow.
In a letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “There is no evidence that corroborates in any way the allegations of BP involvement in the Scottish Executive’s decision to release Megrahi.”
But Hague also said that the release was “a mistake”.
MacAskill said he would “support a wider UK public inquiry or United Nations investigation capable of examining all of the issues related to the Lockerbie atrocity, which go well beyond Scotland’s jurisdiction”.
[From an article in today's edition of The Herald by Political Editor Brian Currie.]
MISSION LOCKERBIE:
ReplyDeleteMacAskill said he would “support a wider UK public inquiry or United Nations investigation capable of examining all of the issues related to the Lockerbie atrocity, which go well beyond Scotland’s jurisdiction”.
The following text is only one computers translation Babylon, German/English:
Minister MacAskill that is the correct away for the truth identification.
Please start the new investigation in co-operation with UN and please publish all documents of the SCCRCommission, as from you several times promised.
The whole Lockerbie "Spare part Bazar" with, MST-13 timer fragment, Toshiba operating instruction, Radiorecorder "Toshiba RT-8016, Al-Megrahi's dress purchase in Malta (Mary's House), the blue baby overall, the Samsonite suit-case transfer via Frankfurt etc., as Fata Morgane will show up...
With this step, you do indeed help, Mr. Al-Megrahi, the families of the victims, the libyan nation and also you help me, Edwin Bollier and my company, MEBO Ltd.
by Edwin and Mahnaz Bollier, MEBO Ltd., Switzerland
URL: www.lockerbie.ch
I think it funny, that, Scotland can not decide on politaical or compassionate end of sentencing overall and it lies with Westminister. With that being said, why is Westminister trying to blame the Scottish Executive?
ReplyDeleteOne discussion with a friend came to the conclusion that, with the Scottish ministers being held responsible, could technically be put on suspension leaving the devolved government wide open for the Tories to take over till the next election dates. With this in mind could it be they are about to increase prescriptions in line with England, personal care for the pensioners and low paid etc will be stopped. And whilst they are it, go further with Tony Blairs original plan of moving the international waters boundary round Scotland even further north to ensure there could be no more it's Scotland waters etc.
Just a thought.
And make sure you don't leave the house without your tinfoil helmet, either....
ReplyDelete