Lockerbie: Miliband refuses to say whether he agrees with MacAskill over bomber's release

Published on Friday 21 August 2009 09:38

FOREIGN Secretary David Miliband today refused to say whether he agreed with the Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's decision to release Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.

But Mr Miliband did say he deplored the reception Megrahi received in Tripoli.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Obviously the sight of a mass murderer getting a hero's welcome in Tripoli is deeply upsetting, deeply distressing.

"Above all for the 270 families who grieve every day for the loss of their loved ones 21 years ago and also for anyone who has an ounce of humanity in them.

"I think that that is the overriding emotion that people will be feeling today."

He said it had been a matter for the Scottish judicial system, which was administered by the devolved government.

"I have and the Government has been absolutely clear all along that we will not interfere in this case beforehand and we are not going to interfere in it now."

He added: "As it happens, (Mr MacAskill) confirmed yesterday ... that there had been no pressure from London, not just no recommendation...

"There has been no pressure from London and we are not going to start engaging in it now.

"The decision has been made according to the constitution of this country."

Mr Miliband said the British Government had told Libya that how it "handled itself" in the next few days would be very significant.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond had earlier told Today: "I don't think the reception for Mr Megrahi was appropriate in Libya; I don't think that was wise and I don't think that was the right thing to do."

He denied that Mr MacAskill's decision had damaged the reputation of Scotland.

"We're not responsible for the actions of others; I don't think we've damaged Scotland's reputation, on the contrary.

"We have to do what we think is right and proper and that's what the Justice Secretary did."

Asked about objections from the US, Mr Salmond said: "Our relationship with America is a strong and enduring one; it doesn't depend on always reaching agreement.

"That can't be the case otherwise there would be no point in having our own independent decision-making, our own jurisdiction."

Mr Miliband strongly rejected the suggestion that the Government had wanted Megrahi to be released so that commercial relations with Libya could be improved.

He told Today: "I really reject that entirely; that is a slur both on myself and the Government.

"We have been scrupulous in saying this decision should be made by the Scottish authorities; we have been scrupulous in saying that to the Libyans, we have been scrupulous in saying that to the Americans..."

He added: "We certainly welcome the fact that over the past 10 years there have been significant changes in Libya's engagement with the international community.

"But it is wrong to say that in this case, the British Government has somehow put pressure on the Scottish authorities or anyone else."