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UK: No deal made with Libya on Lockerbie bomber

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-09-03 00:13

Anger has been percolating on both sides of the Atlantic since al-Megrahi flew home to a hero's welcome in Libya.

The families of some American victims have said they were disgusted by the bomber's release, which was also sharply criticized by President Barack Obama, FBI director Robert Mueller and Attorney General Eric Holder.

Related readings:  UK stressed Libya ties in Lockerbie letters  Britain, Scotland to show Lockerbie correspondence  'Justice' decided Lockerbie decision, says Scotland  Libya says Lockerbie bomber in hospital

Brown even faced criticism from one of his own former ministers, former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. She broke ranks from other Labour stalwarts to denounce the decision.

"It does not feel right to me that someone, who has been convicted for an extremely serious offense, (should) be able to return, in a way in which his victims were not able to, back to Libya," Smith told the BBC. "Of course we have to be compassionate with people who are in prison and coming to the end of their lives but I am not sure I would have made the same decision."

The document disclosures followed claims in the British media that the British government struck a deal with Libya to include al-Megrahi in a prisoner transfer agreement because a major oil deal was being negotiated at the time.

Britain has growing economic interests in Libya - from oil exploration to financial services. Last year, British imports from Libya topped some 1 billion pounds ($1.6 billion).

But the British government has repeatedly denied its role in the release and said there was no pressing commercial deal.

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