SpurNation
08-31-2009, 01:40 PM
Straw yesterday denied allegations that he gave the Scottish government the green light to release Megrahi, in the "overwhelming interests" of wider trade and oil negotiations (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/aug/28/gadaffi-gordon-brown-libya-trade) with the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. After publication of leaked letters purporting to show that Straw had reversed an earlier decision to exclude the Libyan agent from the proposed 2007 UK-Libya prisoner transfer agreement (PTA), he admitted the issue had become a stumbling block.
Straw's apparent change of heart came at a crucial time during negotiations about an oil exploration contract for BP in Libya. Six weeks later, the deal was ratified. The disclosures have prompted calls for an inquiry from opposition parties and relatives of the victims.
The Liberal Democrats' foreign affairs spokesman, Edward Davey, said: "Labour ministers will not now escape the suspicion of a terrorist-for-trade deal unless they agree to the transparency of a full inquiry."
http://current.com/1qgr64c
Straw's apparent change of heart came at a crucial time during negotiations about an oil exploration contract for BP in Libya. Six weeks later, the deal was ratified. The disclosures have prompted calls for an inquiry from opposition parties and relatives of the victims.
The Liberal Democrats' foreign affairs spokesman, Edward Davey, said: "Labour ministers will not now escape the suspicion of a terrorist-for-trade deal unless they agree to the transparency of a full inquiry."
http://current.com/1qgr64c