I know this has been touched on but I think this is disgusting
David Cameron orders release of secret Lockerbie bomber documents
David Cameron is to order the release of secret Government documents disclosing how BP pushed Labour ministers to agree to a controversial deal which led to the release of the Lockerbie bomber.
By Robert Winnett, Washington
Published: 8:40PM BST 20 Jul 2010
David Cameron meets with US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office at the White house in Washington Photo: GETTY IMAGES The release of the confidential memos and letters could pave the way for a full British inquiry into the alleged involvement of the oil giant in the release last year of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence officer.
Mr Cameron, in the US for his first meeting with Barack Obama since becoming Prime Minister, is currently resisting pressure from the Americans to hold a full inquiry into the “oil for terrorists” scandal. He says that the decision was taken by the Scottish Government and BP’s lobbying of British ministers was inconsequential.
Lockerbie bomber's release 'a mistake', says ambassador However, the Prime Minister asked Sir Gus O’Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary, to review “all the paperwork” and make sure the necessary information is released.
Senior American senators demanded that Mr Cameron also push for the return of Megrahi from Libya “back to justice” in a British prison.
The Prime Minister hopes that by offering to co-operate with a US Senate inquiry by releasing any documents it will help to quell growing American anger over the release of the convicted terrorist on compassionate grounds by the Scottish Executive.
In Washington, Mr Cameron said: “I am asking the Cabinet Secretary in the UK to go back over all the paperwork and see if there is anything else that should be released so there is the clearest possible picture out there of what decision was taken and why.
“I do not currently think that another inquiry is the right way to go. I don’t need an inquiry to tell me what I already know, which is that it was a bad decision.”
Speaking at the White House, he said: “It was a bad decision, it shouldn’t have been made. This was the biggest mass murderer in British history.”
The Prime Minister added it was for BP to “answer what activities they undertook”.
Mr Obama described the release of the Lockerbie bomber as “heartbreaking”. “I think all of us here were surprised, disappointed and angry about the release of the Lockerbie bomber,” he said.
“We should have all the facts, they should be laid out there. I have confidence Prime Minister Cameron’s government will be co-operative.”
The scandal is threatening to overshadow Mr Cameron’s first official visit to America as Prime Minister. He had an hour-long meeting with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office. The release of al-Megrahi is understood to have been discussed.
Afghanistan dominated the agenda following the conclusion of a major international conference in Kabul. The pair discussed a deal to hand control of the country to the Afghan national army and police by 2014. Funds will also be released to pay for former Taliban fighters to join the Afghan army.
Mr Cameron also extended an invitation from the Queen for Mr Obama and his wife to make an official state visit to Britain. The visit is likely to happen next year.
The Prime Minister gave the President a painting by Ben Flynn, a controversial former graffiti artist who has been arrested several times. The President gave the Prime Minister a painting by the US pop artist Ed Ruscha.
The two leaders addressed one another by their first names during a press conference and Mr Cameron joked about the tidiness of the Obama children’s bedroom. Mr Obama stressed the “truly special relationship” between Britain and America.
The secret documents – which are set to be released to the US Senate – are likely to include the minutes of two phone calls between Sir Mark Allen, a former MI6 official who is a special adviser to BP, and Jack Straw, the former Justice Secretary. There is also thought to be a letter between the pair.
When in Government, Sir Mark negotiated with Colonel Gaddafi on behalf of Tony Blair and Mr Straw. He then joined the oil company.
The documents, which the Labour Government refused to release, are expected to expose the cosy relationship between BP and the former administration.
Libya has won valuable oil contracts in Libya and is due to begin drilling in the north African country next month. Mr Blair attended the ceremony when the deal was signed.
Before the information can be released, Mr Cameron will have to formally consult Mr Blair and Gordon Brown, under a constitutional convention on the release of papers from a former administration.
However, the move may not be enough for American politicians. Mr Cameron is facing calls from senior US politicians to hold a full inquiry into BP’s lobbying of the British Government to introduce a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya.
Earlier this week, Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State called for a British inquiry.
“That al-Megrahi is living out his remaining days outside of Scottish custody is an affront to the victims' families, the memories of those killed in the Lockerbie bombing, and to all of those who worked tirelessly to ensure justice was served,” she said.
“To that end, we are encouraging the Scottish and British authorities to review again the underlying facts and circumstances leading to the release of al-Megrahi and to consider any new information that has come to light since his release.”
Mr Cameron backed down on Tuesday and agreed to a private meeting with US Senators who have led calls for a full inquiry into the release of Megrahi. He had initially turned down the request for a meeting.
Senator Charles Schumer from New York said: “We are glad the Prime Minister has agreed to meet with us. We plan to ask him to have the UK do a complete investigation and bring al-Megrahi back to justice.”
A row also broke out between former Labour ministers and their Scottish counterparts over who was to blame for Megrahi's release.
David Miliband, the former foreign secretary, had previously said that British business interests "would be damaged" if al-Megrahi had been allowed to die in a Scottish jail. However, Mr Miliband said: “It [the release] was clearly wrong because it was done on the basis he had less than three months to live and it's now 11 months on.”
Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary who authorised the terrorist’s release in August, said: “Mr Miliband, it has to be remembered, was a member of the British Government that entered into a prisoner transfer [agreement] with the state of Libya.
"This was against the wishes of the Government of Scotland. We made it quite clear that if they entered into a prisoner transfer [agreement], then it would include by nature Mr al-Megrahi, and they refused - including Mr Miliband - to exclude Mr Al Megrahi."
On Wednesday, Mr Cameron will spend the morning at the Pentagon receiving briefings from military commanders on the situation in Afghanistan.
He will then travel to New York by train for meetings with Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General, and Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York.
