Straw denies deal with Libya over convicted Lockerbie bomber
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Feb 14, IRNA
UK Straw-Lockerbie Bomber
Justice Secretary Jack Straw Thursday denied that last year's prisoner-transfer agreement signed with Libya was part of a wider deal over the release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, convicted over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.
"No deal has been done with Libya for the transfer of al-Megrahi.
The decision on whether or not a prisoner detained in a Scottish prison is transferred to another country is a matter for Scottish Ministers, not the United Kingdom Government," Straw said.
The agreement, signed former British prime minister Tony Blair before he left office last June, provoked controversy, with Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond accusing Blair of treating the devolved powers of the Scottish parliament with disdain.
Al Megrahi, who is serving a life sentence in Scotland since he was convicted under Scottish law at a specially convened court at Camp Zeist, in the Netherlands, six years ago, is the highest profile Libyan prisoner held in the UK.
But in a letter to the Glasgow Herald, Straw insisted that the deal follows closely the provisions set out in the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which is used by more than 60 countries.
"The agreement will not provide for the transfer of any specific individual but will put in place a framework under which a prisoner may seek a transfer to serve his sentence in his own country," he said.
The deal, the Justice Minister said, will aid the process of re- engaging Libya with the international community and was in the interests of the UK.
"Libya's renunciation of terrorism and transparent dismantling of its WMD programmes were hugely significant steps. It is crucial that we build on this," he said.
The UK has sought to improve its relations with Libya since its commitment to agreed to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction in 2003.
Figures released last week show that Libya has become Britain's principal supplier of crude oil in the Middle East and North African region after Algeria. Claims have been that al-Megrahi was used as a prawn in a recent Pnds 450 million (Dlrs 900 m) oil deal.
The letter from Straw, who has responsibility for the judiciary, comes just a week before the next court hearing on documents relating to an appeal launched by the Libyan agent over his conviction.
In his letter, he confirmed that al-Megrahi could not be considered for transfer until all outstanding legal proceedings have been completed.
Last June, the Guardian newspaper reported that many legal observers believe his conviction will be quashed in the latest appeal and in effect clearing Libya of responsibility for the Pan Am bombing, which killed 270 people over the Scottish border town.
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