MacAskill acted within Scottish law

I LISTENED with astonishment to the spokespeople for Labour and Conservative in the Scottish Parliament complain that Scotland's Justice Secretary has refused to account for himself and the duly elected Scottish Government to representatives of another jurisdiction.

Hasn't it dawned on any of the political point-scorers that it is quite inappropriate to do as they counsel?

Why do they think the former foreign secretary, Jack Straw, has hesitated in acquiescing to the same request? Jack Straw and Kenny MacAskill are following accepted diplomatic practice.

However, if the party political opponents of the Scottish Government insist on conducting internal affairs in another country perhaps in this one circumstance there could be a quid pro quo agreed between both jurisdictions.

The Scottish Government could be guided by the observation of the UN Observer, Dr Hans Koechler, and instigate a full-blown inquiry into all aspects of Lockerbie. Bearing in mind the need to conserve public resources at this time, perhaps it would be possible to get two inquiries for the price of one.

If the Americans won't be insulted by a reciprocal offer from the Scottish Government as has been made to Mr MacAskill and his medical advisor, we'll pay their air fares and, taking advantage of the saving, have an investigation into something else to which many people would like answers.

The Scottish Government would invite the head of the American CIA and relevant Pentagon officials and, of course, the appropriate secretaries of state, to answer the questions that many Scots would like to ask on the practice of rendition flights using Scottish airports.

I hope this helps to put the affair into perspective for Scottish politicians who cannot do anything other than campaign in the kailyard.

MARGO MacDONALD

Independent MSP for Lothians

Scottish Parliament

Alex Salmond is right to assert that ministers of the Scottish Government are not accountable to the Americans for their decisions. However, the release of Megrahi is a unique situation which has understandably caused great anger and hurt among many American people.

The voluntary appearance of Kenny MacAskill before the Senate Committee to explain his decision might have gone some way to winning over the hearts and minds of some of those who lost loved ones. He might not have won the argument but would have gained respect. It's ironic that Alex Salmond and his ministers place so much importance on New York's Tartan Week yet turn down an opportunity to bolster Scotland's tarnished image in that country.

BOB MacDOUGALL

Kippen

Stirlingshire

In THIS theatre of duplicity being played out by our amateur dramatic politicians, there is an obvious vacuum of glaring realism.

The USS Vincennes shot down the Iranian Airbus IR655 in July 1988, therefore an act of revenge should have been both predictable and perhaps inevitable.

Did the US and UK governments know that Pan Am Flight 103 was to be targeted? Were the passengers of Flight 103 knowingly sacrificed in an act of atonement?

It's certainly more believable than the dubious "evidence" used to convict Megrahi.

What we need is a UN-led inquiry to get to the bottom of this whole sorry affair, regardless of however unpalatable that may be for the western world. None of our political parties appears to have courage to ask for one, yet it is the only credible route to the truth that I can conceive.

DAVID FLETT

Cooperage Quay

Stirling

I WRITE to deplore your editorial attempt (22 July) to scapegoat Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill on account of the largely synthetic furore that has been belatedly stirred up by a handful of American senators.

I am at a complete loss to understand how you can have the colossal nerve to berate Mr MacAskill for allegedly lacking the spine to defend Scots law when throughout this affair this is precisely what he has been doing in the face of largely politically motivated internal and external criticism.

Mr MacAskill has been at pains to emphasis he was motivated by a concern to follow proper legal procedure, as dictated by Scots law - not English or American - in coming to a decision about Megrahi, which he would rather not have had to make in view of the complexities and political ramifications of the case.

IAN O BAYNE

Clarence Drive

Glasgow