Most Scots say MacAskill wrong on bomber release

Published on Thursday 27 August 2009 09:43

A POLL today showed a majority of Scots believe justice secretary Kenny MacAskill made the wrong decision in releasing the Lockerbie bomber.

The survey found 43 per cent believed it was right to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds, but 51 per cent were against the move.

Pressure increased today on Gordon Brown to disclose details of trade deals negotiated with Libya after it was reported that three ministers had visited the country in the 15 months leading up to the release of the Lockerbie bomber.

Lord Digby Jones is said to have travelled to Libya as trade minister in May last year to speak to business representatives. Former health minister Dawn Primarolo reportedly had talks with the Libyan prime minister in November last year. And in February, Bill Rammell, then a Foreign Office minister, held discussions with his Libyan counterparts.

Meanwhile, UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw questioned why Mr MacAskill has visited Megrahi in Greenock prison before reaching his decision. He said prisoners had no right to a personal visit.

Mr MacAskill also came under fire after it emerged the medical advice on Megrahi's health came from the Scottish Prison Service's primary care physician rather than a prostate cancer specialist.