22-08-2009, 04:08 PM
Quote:Lockerbie Trade Deal Claim 'Offensive'
Lord Mandelson has dismissed a suggestion the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al Megrahi is linked to a trade deal, describing it as "offensive".
The claim was made by Seif al Islam, the son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi, in a television interview filmed as Megrahi was flown home.
"In all commercial contracts, for oil and gas with Britain, (Megrahi) was always on the negotiating table," he said.
"All British interests were linked to the release of Abdelbaset al Megrahi."
The claim was immediately rejected by the Foreign Office, and was followed by an angry response from the Business Secretary.
"It's not only completely wrong to make such a suggestion it's also quite offensive," Lord Mandelson said.
He said he had met Colonel Gaddafi twice in the past year, and on both occasions he had raised the issue of Megrahi.
"They had the same response from me as they would have had from any other member of the Government. The issue of the prisoner's release was entirely a matter for the Scottish Justice Minister," Lord Mandelson said.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-N...Al_Megrahi
"It means this War was never political at all, the politics was all theatre, all just to keep the people distracted...."
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war
"Proverbs for Paranoids 4: You hide, They seek."
"They are in Love. Fuck the War."
Gravity's Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
"Ccollanan Pachacamac ricuy auccacunac yahuarniy hichascancuta."
The last words of the last Inka, Tupac Amaru, led to the gallows by men of god & dogs of war