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Lockerbie Bomber Freed After 'Thuggish' Gadhafi Threats

British intelligence also suggests 'imminent death' was a stretch

By M Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 7, 2010 7:43 PM CST | Updated Dec 8, 2010 4:47 AM CST

(Newser) – The Guardian highlights WikiLeaks cables surrounding the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, freed by Scotland last year because he supposedly had only a few months to live. The cables show that Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's government put "thuggish" pressure on Britain to make sure Megrahi went free. "Specific threats have included the immediate cessation of all UK commercial activity in Libya, a diminishment or severing of political ties, and demonstrations against official UK facilities," wrote the US ambassador.

That info was followed by this doozy: "[Libyan] officials also implied, but did not directly state, that the welfare of UK diplomats and citizens in Libya would be at risk." Megrahi is still alive today, and a British cable sent to the US prior to his release suggests his cancer diagnosis was far from certain. "Megrahi could have as long as 5 years to live," said the memo. "Doctors are not sure where he is on the time scale." Read more at the Scotsman.

In this Sept. 9, 2009, file photo, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi is seen at his hospital room in Tripoli.
In this Sept. 9, 2009, file photo, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi is seen at his hospital room in Tripoli.   (AP Photo/Abdel Magid Al Fergany, File)
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi talks during the first session of the 3rd Africa-EU Summit in Tripoli, Libya, last month.
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi talks during the first session of the 3rd Africa-EU Summit in Tripoli, Libya, last month.   (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
malek1850
Dec 8, 2010 6:04 AM CST
Double standards in action, when they use thuggish threats, it's part of their culture. When the West makes a threat, It's excessive force. I wonder if we'll ever wake up. But all hope is not lost, let's send them Hampshire poliece for a scare http://t.co/4IwtH6u.
Cat-Lover
Dec 8, 2010 5:37 AM CST
Don't you just hate it when politicians are held captive by thugs? READ MY LIPS, PRESIDENT OBAMA!
bewilderbeast
Dec 8, 2010 4:10 AM CST
Thank you the whistle-blower for leaking this, and thank you wikileaks (and The Guardian, et al) for publishing. Now we know how the "LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD" the USA and (OK, it's a stretch, but they sure can preach) the UK really are. "We're all about PRINCIPLES (which we bend to suit whatever we want to do)! Other countries should be as "good" as we are!" Well fuck you both. GO wikileaks! Here's looking forward to the truth about Big Banks and their LIES and THEFT.

 
Libya • Moammar Gadhafi • Lockerbie • Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi • Wikileaks diplomatic cables

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