BP denies lobbying over Lockerbie bomber release

BP said yesterday it had lobbied the British government to speed up a prisoner transfer accord with Libya to smooth its business ties with Tripoli but denied pressing for the Lockerbie bomber to be released.

The denial came after a report said the oil giant had lobbied the British justice minister in 2007 shortly before he abandoned plans to exclude Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi from a Prison Transfer Agreement with Tripoli.

The Times newspaper said Justice Secretary Jack Straw had taken two telephone calls from Sir Mark Allen, a former M16 agent and consultant for BP in October and November 2007.

BP had signed a massive oil deal with Libya earlier that year but feared its ties could be threatened if Britain delayed the prison deal through which Tripoli hoped to secure Mr al-Megrahi's return from a Scottish jail, the Times said.

Talks with Libya were blocked for six months as Mr Straw sought to ensure that Mr Megrahi, the only man convicted over the 1988 bombing that killed 270 people, would not be eligible to return home under the deal.

But on December 19, 2007, Mr Straw wrote to Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to say he had been unable to secure an exemption for Mr al-Megrahi.

A BP spokesman said: "BP did bring to the attention of the UK government in late 2007 our concerns about the slow progress in concluding a Prisoner Transfer Agreement with Libya.

"Like many others, we were aware that delay might have negative consequences for UK commercial interests, including ratification of BP's exploration agreement.

But it said: "In making that point to the government, we were not talking about the al-Megrahi case because we were fully aware that this was solely a matter for the Scottish executive and not the UK authorities."