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7 February 2011
Last updated at 09:27 ET
The previous UK government did "all it could" to facilitate the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, a report on the case has said.
Sir Gus O'Donnell, the country's most senior civil servant, said there was an "underlying desire" to see Megrahi released before he died.
But his report concluded that it was made clear to Libya that the final decision was up to Scottish ministers.
And there was no evidence of UK pressure on the Holyrood government.
Reacting to the report, the Scottish government claimed UK ministers changed their position on Megrahi's due to "commercial considerations, including lobbying by BP" in Libya.
Most of the 270 people who died when Pan Am Flight 103 blew up over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988 were Americans.
Megrahi, the only person convicted of the atrocity, was released by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill on compassionate grounds.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
The Libyan, terminally ill with prostate cancer, was freed from a Scottish prison to return home in August 2009 after doctors suggested he had three months to live, although he is still alive.
Sir Gus O'Donnell's report said the UK government had an "underlying desire to see Mr Megrahi released before he died".
The report added that, in 2008, the government developed a policy that it "should do all it could, whilst respecting devolved competences, to facilitate an appeal by the Libyans to the Scottish government for Mr Megrahi's transfer under the PTA (prisoner transfer agreement) or release on compassionate grounds".
"This action amounted to: proceeding with ratification of the PTA; explaining to Libya in factual terms the process for application for transfer under a PTA or for compassionate release; and informing the Scottish government that there was no legal barrier to transfer under the PTA," the report said.
Sir Gus said he had "not seen any evidence" that the UK government pressured or lobbied the Scottish government for the transfer or release of Megrahi.
Prime Minister David Cameron - who, along with US President Barack Obama has condemned Megrahi's release - will make a statement to the Commons on the case later this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Scottish government has also published a series of documents relating to the case.
Holyrood ministers said the UK government papers "bear out the consistency of the Scottish government's position in all respects".
"They confirm that Scottish ministers followed the due process of Scots law and practice throughout the entire period, without regard to foreign policy, economic or any other considerations," the Scottish government said.
A spokesperson said the key issue which had emerged was "how UK government policy changed in the autumn of 2008 to favour the release of al Megrahi while maintaining that UK ministers had no position".
Devolved powers
Mr MacAskill has always insisted his controversial decision to release Megrahi was based on the principles of the Scottish justice system and not influenced by any external political or commercial pressures.
Last week, a secret US diplomatic cable obtained by the Wikileaks website and shown to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, cited details of a letter sent by then Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell to his Tripoli counterpart.
Sent within weeks of Megrahi being diagnosed with cancer in 2008, it was said to outline "the procedure for obtaining compassionate release".
Then prime minister Gordon Brown has strenuously denied any attempt by the UK government to influence the decision to release Megrahi, which fell within Scotland's devolved justice powers.
Reacting to the report, Mr Rammell, said it "confirmed very clearly" what he previously said.
"At all times in our dealings, we made clear that any decision to release Al Megrahi was exclusively a matter for the Scottish government and we did not pressure or lobby the Scottish government to release Megrahi," he said.
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Sir Gus O'Donnell, the country's most senior civil servant, said there was an "underlying desire" to see Megrahi released before he died.
But his report concluded that it was made clear to Libya that the final decision was up to Scottish ministers.
And there was no evidence of UK pressure on the Holyrood government.
Reacting to the report, the Scottish government claimed UK ministers changed their position on Megrahi's due to "commercial considerations, including lobbying by BP" in Libya.
Most of the 270 people who died when Pan Am Flight 103 blew up over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in 1988 were Americans.
Megrahi, the only person convicted of the atrocity, was released by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill on compassionate grounds.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
At all times in our dealings, we made clear that any decision to release Al Megrahi was exclusively a matter for the Scottish government”
End Quote
Bill Rammell
Former UK Foreign Office minister
The Libyan, terminally ill with prostate cancer, was freed from a Scottish prison to return home in August 2009 after doctors suggested he had three months to live, although he is still alive.
Sir Gus O'Donnell's report said the UK government had an "underlying desire to see Mr Megrahi released before he died".
The report added that, in 2008, the government developed a policy that it "should do all it could, whilst respecting devolved competences, to facilitate an appeal by the Libyans to the Scottish government for Mr Megrahi's transfer under the PTA (prisoner transfer agreement) or release on compassionate grounds".
"This action amounted to: proceeding with ratification of the PTA; explaining to Libya in factual terms the process for application for transfer under a PTA or for compassionate release; and informing the Scottish government that there was no legal barrier to transfer under the PTA," the report said.
Sir Gus said he had "not seen any evidence" that the UK government pressured or lobbied the Scottish government for the transfer or release of Megrahi.
Prime Minister David Cameron - who, along with US President Barack Obama has condemned Megrahi's release - will make a statement to the Commons on the case later this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Scottish government has also published a series of documents relating to the case.
Holyrood ministers said the UK government papers "bear out the consistency of the Scottish government's position in all respects".
"They confirm that Scottish ministers followed the due process of Scots law and practice throughout the entire period, without regard to foreign policy, economic or any other considerations," the Scottish government said.
A spokesperson said the key issue which had emerged was "how UK government policy changed in the autumn of 2008 to favour the release of al Megrahi while maintaining that UK ministers had no position".
Devolved powers
Mr MacAskill has always insisted his controversial decision to release Megrahi was based on the principles of the Scottish justice system and not influenced by any external political or commercial pressures.
Last week, a secret US diplomatic cable obtained by the Wikileaks website and shown to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, cited details of a letter sent by then Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell to his Tripoli counterpart.
Sent within weeks of Megrahi being diagnosed with cancer in 2008, it was said to outline "the procedure for obtaining compassionate release".
Then prime minister Gordon Brown has strenuously denied any attempt by the UK government to influence the decision to release Megrahi, which fell within Scotland's devolved justice powers.
Reacting to the report, Mr Rammell, said it "confirmed very clearly" what he previously said.
"At all times in our dealings, we made clear that any decision to release Al Megrahi was exclusively a matter for the Scottish government and we did not pressure or lobby the Scottish government to release Megrahi," he said.
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