By Matthew Champion.
The UK and Scottish governments have published letters between ministers relating to the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al Megrahi.
London hopes the publication of the letters on the Ministry of Justice website will end speculation it was involved in the Libyan's release.
Justice secretary Jack Straw became embroiled in the controversy when it emerged he wrote to his Scottish counterpart Kenny MacAskill that it would be in the 'overwhelming interests' of the UK not to exclude him from a prisoner transfer agreement.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office later followed suit, publishing on its website two relevant letters sent in the last two months.
The FCO said the correspondence 'makes clear that no attempt was made to steer the Scottish executive in any direction'.
A host of materials were also published on the Scottish executive's website.
Mr McAskill commented: 'The published material includes all the relevant information from the Scottish government as well as relevant documents where third party agreement has been sought and received.
'Where that agreement has not been reached, those decisions are clearly outlined. Where agreement to release information is reached at a later stage, those documents will be added to the web page.'
20070726 Jack Straw to Kenny Macaskill Libya Prisoner Transfer Agreement
In a letter written to Scottish first minister Alex Salmond dated November 21st last year, Mr Straw wrote: 'You will be aware that Libyan concerns for Megrahi's health and possible return to Libya remain.
'I would like to assure you that at both ministerial and official level we are continuing to reiterate to the Libyans that any questions of treatment, possible compassionate release or any application to transfer under the [prisoner transfer agreement] and bail are a matter exclusively for Scottish ministers and Scottish courts respectively.'
Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds on August 20th. Both London and Edinburgh have insisted the decision to release the 57-year-old was made solely by Mr MacAskill and was unrelated to trade and oil deals.
In another letter dated in February last year, Mr Straw responds to Mr Salmond's questions about what he means by 'national interests'.
'Developing a strong relationship with Libya, and helping it to reintegrate into the international community, is good for the UK,' he replied.
'Libya is one of only two countries to have ever voluntarily and transparently dismantled its weapons of mass destruction programme. Having sponsored terrorist attacks in the past, it is now an important partner in the fight against terrorism. Libya is in a key position to help stem the flow of illegal migrants to the EU and to the UK.'
Critics have attacked the government over its apparent show of transparency.
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey asked: 'The question is, is it all the documents involved?
'Will we still have to have some sort of foreign affairs select committee inquiry, so ministers can actually be questioned, so we can get some of the background to the letters and to any conversations that were held?'
Megrahi was freed last month on compassionate grounds eight years into a life sentence for the murder of 270 people after the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988.
The decision has provoked controversy at home and abroad, further exacerbated by the hero's welcome he received upon his return in Tripoli.
The UK and Scottish governments have published letters between ministers relating to the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al Megrahi.
London hopes the publication of the letters on the Ministry of Justice website will end speculation it was involved in the Libyan's release.
Justice secretary Jack Straw became embroiled in the controversy when it emerged he wrote to his Scottish counterpart Kenny MacAskill that it would be in the 'overwhelming interests' of the UK not to exclude him from a prisoner transfer agreement.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office later followed suit, publishing on its website two relevant letters sent in the last two months.
The FCO said the correspondence 'makes clear that no attempt was made to steer the Scottish executive in any direction'.
A host of materials were also published on the Scottish executive's website.
Mr McAskill commented: 'The published material includes all the relevant information from the Scottish government as well as relevant documents where third party agreement has been sought and received.
'Where that agreement has not been reached, those decisions are clearly outlined. Where agreement to release information is reached at a later stage, those documents will be added to the web page.'
20070726 Jack Straw to Kenny Macaskill Libya Prisoner Transfer Agreement
In a letter written to Scottish first minister Alex Salmond dated November 21st last year, Mr Straw wrote: 'You will be aware that Libyan concerns for Megrahi's health and possible return to Libya remain.
'I would like to assure you that at both ministerial and official level we are continuing to reiterate to the Libyans that any questions of treatment, possible compassionate release or any application to transfer under the [prisoner transfer agreement] and bail are a matter exclusively for Scottish ministers and Scottish courts respectively.'
Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds on August 20th. Both London and Edinburgh have insisted the decision to release the 57-year-old was made solely by Mr MacAskill and was unrelated to trade and oil deals.
In another letter dated in February last year, Mr Straw responds to Mr Salmond's questions about what he means by 'national interests'.
'Developing a strong relationship with Libya, and helping it to reintegrate into the international community, is good for the UK,' he replied.
'Libya is one of only two countries to have ever voluntarily and transparently dismantled its weapons of mass destruction programme. Having sponsored terrorist attacks in the past, it is now an important partner in the fight against terrorism. Libya is in a key position to help stem the flow of illegal migrants to the EU and to the UK.'
Critics have attacked the government over its apparent show of transparency.
Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey asked: 'The question is, is it all the documents involved?
'Will we still have to have some sort of foreign affairs select committee inquiry, so ministers can actually be questioned, so we can get some of the background to the letters and to any conversations that were held?'
Megrahi was freed last month on compassionate grounds eight years into a life sentence for the murder of 270 people after the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988.
The decision has provoked controversy at home and abroad, further exacerbated by the hero's welcome he received upon his return in Tripoli.
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