The Scottish government has said it will help the US inquiry with new information into the release of the Lockerbie bomber. It's been alleged that the previous Labour government made a deal with Libya - send al-Megrahi home in exchange for a $1 billion oil exploration deal for BP.
The Sunday Times disclosed this month that Megrahi could live for another 10 years and was never likely to die within the three months that doctors predicted at the time of his release. If he were to die in custody, it was feared that the deal to allow BP to drill for oil off Libya would be cancelled. British Foreign Secretary William Hague wrote to Hillary Clinton on Saturday confirming his belief that it had been a mistake to release Megrahi and that the newly elected government had opposed the release at the time. However, he said there was no evidence to prove that BP was involved in the Scottish Executive's decision to release him - Scottish ministers insist it was their decision alone to release him on compassionate ground after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Last year, son of the Libyan leader Colonel Gadaffi said the Lockerbie bomber was "always on the negotiating table" when oil and gas contracts were discussed with Britain". So someone is telling porkies.
BP admits warning the British government of a potential "negative impact on UK commercial interests" but insists they had no talks with London or Edinburgh over Megrahi's release. The new Prime Minister, David Cameron is set to visit Washington tomorrow.
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