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| Lockerbie bomber claim challenged | Lockerbie bomber claim challenged |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has hit out at claims that a prisoner exchange agreement with Libya did not cover the Lockerbie bomber. | Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has hit out at claims that a prisoner exchange agreement with Libya did not cover the Lockerbie bomber. |
| Downing Street insisted a memorandum of understanding, signed during a trip by Tony Blair to Libya, did not apply to Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi. | Downing Street insisted a memorandum of understanding, signed during a trip by Tony Blair to Libya, did not apply to Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi. |
| Meanwhile, former first minister Jack McConnell said transfer attempts were made while he was in office. | Meanwhile, former first minister Jack McConnell said transfer attempts were made while he was in office. |
| Mr McConnell said he was keen to retain his right of veto under Scots law. | Mr McConnell said he was keen to retain his right of veto under Scots law. |
| The row broke out when the UK Government published details of a deal struck with Libya on prisoner exchange - but it insisted the document did not cover al-Megrahi's case and that no deal had been signed over his future. | The row broke out when the UK Government published details of a deal struck with Libya on prisoner exchange - but it insisted the document did not cover al-Megrahi's case and that no deal had been signed over his future. |
| First Minister Alex Salmond voiced concern at Holyrood that al-Megrahi could be transferred back to a jail in Libya, comments which were backed by the other Scottish parties. | First Minister Alex Salmond voiced concern at Holyrood that al-Megrahi could be transferred back to a jail in Libya, comments which were backed by the other Scottish parties. |
| The total lack of a relationship between Scotland's two parliaments is a recipe for constitutional disaster Annabel Goldie MSPScottish Tory leader | The total lack of a relationship between Scotland's two parliaments is a recipe for constitutional disaster Annabel Goldie MSPScottish Tory leader |
| Mr MacAskill told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that there was no mention of al-Megrahi in the memorandum, but added: "When we're talking about the transfer of Libyan prisoners they are not secreted in Barlinnie, Saughton, Perth or anywhere else. | Mr MacAskill told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that there was no mention of al-Megrahi in the memorandum, but added: "When we're talking about the transfer of Libyan prisoners they are not secreted in Barlinnie, Saughton, Perth or anywhere else. |
| "We have only one Libyan national in custody and when we talk about the transfer of prisoners, frankly it is ludicrous to suggest that we are talking in a context other than this major atrocity that was perpetrated on Scottish soil and which was dealt with by a Scottish court and with a sentence provided by Scottish judges." | "We have only one Libyan national in custody and when we talk about the transfer of prisoners, frankly it is ludicrous to suggest that we are talking in a context other than this major atrocity that was perpetrated on Scottish soil and which was dealt with by a Scottish court and with a sentence provided by Scottish judges." |
| 'Urgent review' | 'Urgent review' |
| The justice secretary added: "When we talk about the transfer of Libyan prisoners within the jurisdiction of the government of Scotland, we are talking about the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing." | The justice secretary added: "When we talk about the transfer of Libyan prisoners within the jurisdiction of the government of Scotland, we are talking about the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing." |
| Mr McConnell, in an interview with the radio station talk 107, said the nature of his discussions over a transfer must remain private. | |
| However, he added: "Personally, I was always very keen to retain the right of veto that we had in Scotland as a devolved government over any prisoner transfers, and you can see from the fact that Mr Megrahi is still in Scotland what the outcome of those discussions were." | However, he added: "Personally, I was always very keen to retain the right of veto that we had in Scotland as a devolved government over any prisoner transfers, and you can see from the fact that Mr Megrahi is still in Scotland what the outcome of those discussions were." |
| The Libyan is serving life in Greenock Prison for killing 270 people in the bomb attack on Pan Am flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. | The Libyan is serving life in Greenock Prison for killing 270 people in the bomb attack on Pan Am flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. |
| Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie has called for an urgent review of the relationship, concordats and agreements between the Westminster and Holyrood governments. | Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie has called for an urgent review of the relationship, concordats and agreements between the Westminster and Holyrood governments. |
| "The total lack of a relationship between Scotland's two parliaments, evident since 3 May - and highlighted this week - is a recipe for constitutional disaster," she said. | "The total lack of a relationship between Scotland's two parliaments, evident since 3 May - and highlighted this week - is a recipe for constitutional disaster," she said. |