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Lockerbie: UK snubs US Senate
Source: Agencies |
September 14, 2010, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE British government said yesterday it has refused a request from a United States Senate committee to interview officials involved in the release of the man convicted of blowing up a passenger plane over Lockerbie, Scotland.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is sending a staffer to Britain as part of its investigation into the release of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the only person convicted of the 1988 attack, which killed all 259 people aboard the Pan Am plane - most of them American - and 11 on the ground.
The Foreign Office said it had declined a request for officials to meet the US Senate staffer, because the Civil Service Code prevents serving staff from discussing the policies of previous governments and because of concerns over international jurisdiction.
A spokeswoman said that despite the refusal, the British government was "committed to being constructive." She said Foreign Secretary William Hague had written to the committee setting out the British government's position.
Megrahi was freed from a Scottish prison on compassionate grounds in August 2009.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is sending a staffer to Britain as part of its investigation into the release of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the only person convicted of the 1988 attack, which killed all 259 people aboard the Pan Am plane - most of them American - and 11 on the ground.
The Foreign Office said it had declined a request for officials to meet the US Senate staffer, because the Civil Service Code prevents serving staff from discussing the policies of previous governments and because of concerns over international jurisdiction.
A spokeswoman said that despite the refusal, the British government was "committed to being constructive." She said Foreign Secretary William Hague had written to the committee setting out the British government's position.
Megrahi was freed from a Scottish prison on compassionate grounds in August 2009.
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