Washington: Cameron rejects Megrahi inquiry
By Ian Dunt
David Cameron has rejected efforts to have an inquiry into the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi despite requests from the US for one to take place.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton had called for the probe, but Mr Cameron said: “I don’t think there’s any great mystery here.
“I don’t need an inquiry to tell me it was a bad decision. It was a bad decision.”
While an investigation was “not off the table”, the prime minister said he would instead have government papers related to the release looked at by the Cabinet secretary.
He also rejected the notion that BP had secured the prisoner transfer agreement, but reminded his American audience of his anger at the decision.
“Releasing the Lockerbie bomber, a mass murderer, was completely wrong,” he said.
“He showed his victims no compassion. They were not allowed to die in their beds at home.
“That was not a decision taken by BP, it was a decision taken by the Scottish government.”
Scottish first minister Alex Salmond shot back: “‘I’m not a doctor but I think it’s entirely possible that somebody’s life expectancy in a prison in Greenock is somewhat shorter than the life expectancy with aggressive drug therapy in Tripoli.
“It doesn’t alter the fact that Mr Megrahi has terminal cancer and will die because he has terminal cancer.”
Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill, who made the decision, said: “Al-Megrahi is terminally ill. I stand by my decision. I dealt with it following the rules. It’s easy to criticise from the sidelines.”
