More questions to ask in Megrahi case

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's statement in support of his decision to let Abdelbaset al-Megrahi go on compassionate grounds has already been analysed in depth.

The rigour of the medical advice, the controversial visit by the minister to Greenock prison and the flying of the Saltire at Tripoli airport have all been rehashed ad infinitum.

What seems to have been ignored was a significant part of Mr McAskill's statement last summer. He made the point that he had come under no pressure from any quarter to make a decision either way.

But he also stressed another matter: that the Scottish Government had no powers to examine the wider aspects of the case but would co-operate if a major inquiry was established at either UK or international level.

It is for this that the four senators should be campaigning. There is an understandable angst across the Atlantic about Megrahi's longevity.

This is not the main issue. It is that there are now a number of diplomatic, economic and legal barriers to the quest for truth on the whole affair. The bodies that can overcome these barriers are the British, Libyan and US governments.

How long Megrahi lives seems a small point compared with what might emerge if they were all truthful about what really went on.

BOB TAYLOR

Shiel Court, Glenrothes

The reported increase in pressure by four US senators for an investigation into the release on compassionate grounds of the convicted and cancer-ridden Lockerbie bomber almost a year ago (your report, 14 July) brings into question again the judgment of Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill.

Many who sympathised at the time with Mr MacAskill's stated reasoning assumed that a panel of top medical experts had examined Mr Megrahi and came to a joint "three months to live'' conclusion. It would seem now that was far from being the case.

There was also a suspicion that Mr MacAskill may have decided to let Mr Megrahi go merely to emphasise to the world that is was solely a "Scottish'' decision and justice and compassion was not involved in the process.

Let us hope that was not the case.

ALEXANDER McKAY

New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh