US senators target BP over Lockerbie link
Updated on 14 July 2010
US senators call for an investigation of BP's Libyan business interests, accusing the oil giant of lobbying for the early release of the convicted Lockerbie terrorist - with plans to use "blood money" to pay off victims of the Gulf spill.
BP, which is already under criminal investigation for the oil spill in the Gulf, is due to begin drilling off the coast of Libya within weeks.
The $900m deal is BP's biggest single exploration project, more than 2000 times the size of the Gulf of Mexico deepwater blocks.
The news comes as BP stalls tests to determine if it can close the new cap it fitted on the leaking oil well earlier this week, in order to carry out extra scientific analysis.
A group of Democratic senators led by New Jersey’s Frank Lautenberg have written to the Secretary of State calling for a further US government investigation into reports that BP aided the early release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi.
Mr al Megrahi was the only person convicted for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing of a US Pan Am jumbo jet over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, which left 270 people dead.
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BP said that it was "a matter of public record" that in late 2007 the oil group discussed with the UK government its concern at the slow progress being made on the Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Libya concerning Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi.
"Like many others we were aware that a delay might have negative consequences for UK commercial interests, including ratification of BP’s exploration agreement," a spokesman for BP said.
He added: "However, we did not express a view about the specific form of the agreement, which was a matter for the UK and Libyan governments, or make representations over the al Megrahi case, which was solely a matter for the Scottish Executive and not for the UK Government."
The lucrative Libyan deal could be worth an estimated $20bn and covers acreage the size of Kuwait.
Mr Lautenberg wrote: "It is shocking and unconscionable that an oil contract between BP and Libya may have played a role in Mr Megrahi's release."
The senator queried the release of Mr al-Megrahi, which was on condition of his poor health – highlighting "new questions about the veracity of medial reports detailing Mr al Megrahi’s health at the time".
Mr al Megrahi was released last August on the compassionate grounds that he was suffering from terminal cancer, after serving 8 years of a life sentence.
However, Mr Lautenberg, along with senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Charles Schumer and Robert Menendez wrote to UK Ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald last week urging a full investigation into the decision to release Mr Megrahi who is "still alive and reportedly living in luxury".
"Was this corporation willing to trade justice in the murder of 270 innocent people for oil profits?" Senator Schumer wrote, adding that an answer "will help us understand if BP might use blood money to pay claims for damage in the Gulf of Mexico."
However, the Scottish Government has closed the book on the case, maintaining that there is "no need for further investigations".
The Scottish Government counsellor for North America, Robin Naysmith, replied disputing their claims that the doctors' report was flawed.
The decision for compassionate release was based on advice from the director of health at the Scottish Prison service and a range of specialists, he wrote, adding: "The specialists did not include Professor Sikora, who has been the subject of recent media attention."
The letter from Mr Lautenberg sets out his second request to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to investigate BP's Libyan deal. He sent an initial letter calling for an investigation last September.
