MSP calls on senator to question US oil firms over Libya lobbying

The US senator locked in a row over the release of the Lockerbie bomber has been told to question American firms' involvement in lobbying with Libya.

Senator Robert Menendez previously tried to link BP with the Scottish Government's decision to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi.

SNP back-bencher Christine Grahame has now written to the senator attempting to turn the tables by pointing out that US firm Exxon Mobil also has links with Libya through the Libyan British Business Council (LBCC).

She said: "If Senator Menendez and his colleagues are so concerned that business interests may have lobbied the UK government, they should start by asking their own American businesses. Exxon Mobil is the largest oil company in the LBBC and is on its governing council.

"If Senator Menendez wants to find out what the LBBC wanted and if they lobbied the UK government, the senator should start by questioning Exxon Mobil."

Last week Mr Menendez issued a plea for "whistleblowers" to come forward as part of his own attempts to investigate the circumstances surrounding Megrahi's release.

In a television appearance, he cited a letter from Conservative peer Lord Trefgarne, chairman of the LBBC, to justice secretary Kenny MacAskill. But a reply from Mr MacAskill stated that political considerations would play no part in whether or not Megrahi was released.

Ms Grahame added: "The Scottish Government firmly rebuffed the letter from the LBBC, as Senator Menendez well knows.

"But there are questions over businesses' earlier involvement, the deal in the desert and the moves by US and UK governments to normalise relations with Libya at a time when US and UK businesses were desperate for oil deals."