No 10 'did plot to send prisoner to Libya'

Last updated at 00:49 09 June 2007


Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi

Downing Street is facing fresh claims it plotted to make a secret deal with Libya to send home the Lockerbie bomber.



The former Scottish First Minister has revealed that "discussions" did take place about the possible transfer of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi.

Jack McConnell, who was ousted in last month's Scottish elections, suggested that he was forced to block the deal while he was still in his post.

Mr McConnell told radio station Talk107: "I was involved in discussions with this as First Minister.

"Much of what happened in those discussions has to remain private.

"But personally I was always very keen to retain the right of veto that we had in Scotland as a devolved government over any prisoner transfers."

Tony Blair has been plunged into the row after it emerged that he had signed a "memorandum of understanding" on prisoner transfers with Colonel Gaddafi last week.

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Blair embraces Gaddafi

Downing Street officials have insisted that Megrahi, who is serving life in Greenock prison for his role in the plane bombing which killed 270 people in 1988, is not going home.

But Scotland's Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill described the denials as "ludicrous".

He said: "While Megrahi was not mentioned in the memorandum, he was the only Libyan national in jail in Scotland."

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Lockerbie crash scene

A spokesman for Downing Street said: "It is absolutely incorrect to say a deal has been done.

"All that the memorandum of understanding says is that we will have further talks about these matters."

Senior Foreign Office sources have accused the Libyans of "talking up" the prospect of Megrahi - who was tried in the Netherlands in 2001 - being sent home.

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