Lockerbie Bomber Freed for Oil: UK Official

Minutes strengthen rumors of oil deal

(NEWSER) - More Lockerbie troubles for Gordon Brown. Newly released documents suggest the UK prime minister didn't want Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi to die in a Scottish prison, the London Times reports. The development will further fuel speculation that Britain tacitly led the push for Megrahi's release in exchange for a cozy oil deal with Libya. More»

(NEWSER) - A British official today denied suggestions that the government struck a deal to free the Lockerbie bomber in exchange for a nice price on Libyan oil, reports the Guardian. "It's not only completely wrong to make such a suggestion, it's also quite offensive," said the business secretary. The allegation arose after Moammar Gadhafi's son said the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi had been linked to trade talks over gas and oil, followed up by Gadhafi himself publicly thanking Gordon Brown. More»

(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»

Pressed docs to find that al-Megrahi had just 3 months to live

(NEWSER) - Libya footed the bill for medical evidence that suggested the Lockerbie bomber had just 3 months to live, the Sunday Telegraph reports. The Libyan government pushed doctors to make the prognosis, required in Scotland for the release of prisoners on grounds of compassion. “The figure of three months was suggested as being helpful (by the Libyans),” said one doctor. “To start with I said it was impossible to do that.” 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»