Brown Didn't Want Lockerbie Bomber to Die in Prison

(NEWSER) - President Obama today brought his displeasure over the release of the Lockerbie bomber directly to Gordon Brown’s attention, the BBC reports. Obama did not specifically blame Brown, but relatives of those who died are outraged at the release, and the president has called it a “mistake.” The UK PM maintains the decision to spring Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was entirely up to the Scottish government. More»

(NEWSER) - Opposition parties are turning up the heat on Gordon Brown after Moammar Gadhafi’s son said the fate of the Lockerbie bomber came up often in trade talks between Libya and the UK. Tories say that raises “serious questions” about 10 Downing St.’s role in the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on humanitarian grounds. The public needs to know “beyond any doubt that this was not connected with some political trade,” wrote David Cameron in a letter to Brown. More»

Three-month life expectancy was only an approximate, says Scot minister

(NEWSER) - Scotland caused international outrage when it released Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi to Libya on compassionate grounds because he had only three months to live. That was six months ago. While the convicted terrorist continues to call Scotland twice monthly as per the terms of his parole, Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill was scrambling to back off the 3-month window as an approximation as early as last month. Victims' relatives aren't amused. More»

(NEWSER) - A top British official said today that Scotland sent the Lockerbie bomber to Libya to facilitate a multi-million-dollar oil deal. Contradicting PM Gordon Brown, Justice Secretary Jack Straw told the Telegraph that the release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi helped BP sign an agreement with Libya. "I’m unapologetic about that," Straw said. "Libya was a rogue state. We wanted to bring it back into the fold." More»

(NEWSER) - Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill said today that the release of the Lockerbie bomber "was my decision and my decision alone," reports the Times of London, but that Libya violated an agreement in greeting Abdelbaset al-Megrahi with a hero's welcome. “It is a matter of great regret that Mr. al-Megrahi was received in such an inappropriate manner,” he told Scottish parliament. "It showed no compassion or sensitivity to the families of the 270 victims of Lockerbie." More»