This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7244033.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
'No deal' over Lockerbie bomber 'No deal' over Lockerbie bomber
(about 4 hours later)
UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said "no deal" has been done with Libya for the transfer of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.UK Justice Secretary Jack Straw has said "no deal" has been done with Libya for the transfer of the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond had raised concerns after reports that a £450m deal between oil giant BP and Libya was linked to a transfer. The Scottish Government raised concerns after reports that a £450m deal between oil giant BP and Libya was linked to a transfer.
In a letter to the Herald newspaper, Mr Straw said such a move would be a matter for the Scottish Government.In a letter to the Herald newspaper, Mr Straw said such a move would be a matter for the Scottish Government.
Megrahi is serving life for killing 270 people in the 1988 bombing.Megrahi is serving life for killing 270 people in the 1988 bombing.
He was convicted in 2001 of blowing up Pan Am flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie.He was convicted in 2001 of blowing up Pan Am flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie.
Ratified a contract The BBC understands that Megrahi, who is currently serving his sentence in Greenock prison, would not wish to take part in any transfer deal.
The BBC understands that Megrahi, who's currently serving his sentence in Greenock prison, would not wish to take part in any transfer deal. 'Sought the assurance'
He is awaiting an appeal hearing and has stated in the past that he only wants to leave Scotland as a free man, acquitted at the end of that appeal.He is awaiting an appeal hearing and has stated in the past that he only wants to leave Scotland as a free man, acquitted at the end of that appeal.
Mr Salmond spoke out on the issue after a newspaper said Libya had ratified a contract with BP, after Westminster ministers drafted a prisoner transfer agreement that it claimed could cover Megrahi. Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill accused Westminster of undermining the Scottish Government after a newspaper said Libya had ratified a contract with BP after UK ministers drafted a prisoner transfer agreement that it claimed could cover Megrahi.
The first minister described the report as "a very serious allegation", and said it was up to the UK government to explain. Mr MacAskill told BBC Radio Scotland that the Scottish Government was previously told that Megrahi would be excluded from an agreement between the UK and Libya on the transfer of prisoners.
He pointed out Megrahi's case was under appeal and that the judicial process must be allowed to take its course. He claimed that if Megrahi was not specifically excluded from a deal on prisoner transfer, any decision by the Scottish Government could be challenged in the courts by judicial review.
Mr MacAskill said: "That is why we sought the assurance that Mr al-Megrahi would be specifically excluded.
"We were given those assurances by Jack Straw and the British Government last year. Something has changed.
"Something changed their mind between last November and now. We do think that the Scottish Government's position has been jeopardised and that the British Government have changed their position."
Megrahi is serving life at Greenock PrisonMegrahi is serving life at Greenock Prison
Mr Straw stated: "No deal has been done with Libya for the transfer of al-Megrahi. But Mr Straw stated: "No deal has been done with Libya for the transfer of al-Megrahi.
"The decision on whether or not a prisoner detained in a Scottish prison is transferred to another country is a matter for Scottish ministers, not the United Kingdom government." "The decision on whether or not a prisoner detained in a Scottish prison is transferred to another country is a matter for Scottish ministers, not the UK Government."
He wrote that the UK government had been "clear about this fact" from the outset. He wrote that the UK Government had been "clear about this fact" from the outset.
He added that as part of the prisoner transfer agreement, an inmate could not be considered for transfer "until all outstanding legal proceedings in the sentencing state have been completed".He added that as part of the prisoner transfer agreement, an inmate could not be considered for transfer "until all outstanding legal proceedings in the sentencing state have been completed".
Anyone subject to an appeal cannot apply for transfer until the case had been heard, he said.Anyone subject to an appeal cannot apply for transfer until the case had been heard, he said.
A row previously broke out between UK and Scottish ministers after former Prime Minister Tony Blair and Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi signed a memorandum of understanding on prisoner transfer.A row previously broke out between UK and Scottish ministers after former Prime Minister Tony Blair and Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi signed a memorandum of understanding on prisoner transfer.
Downing Street said at the time that the agreement did not cover Megrahi, but Mr Straw later said the fate of the bomber was a "matter for discussion" with Holyrood ministers.Downing Street said at the time that the agreement did not cover Megrahi, but Mr Straw later said the fate of the bomber was a "matter for discussion" with Holyrood ministers.