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UK-Libyan arms deal 'foul play' suspected behind Lockerbie bomber release

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ANI Washington
Last Updated : Jul 29 2013 | 4:20 PM IST

Britain has fallen under criticism after an email was disclosed revealing release of the Lockerbie bomber from a Scottish prison on grounds of compassion.

Fox News reports that the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset al- Megrahi, had allegedly murdered 270 passengers on PanAm Flight 103 after the New York-bound plane blew up over Scotland in 1988.

According to the report, al-Megrahi was released from the Scottish prison in 2009 after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, after which he died in May 2012.

The email was penned by then-UK ambassador to Libya, Sir Vincent Fean, and sent to then ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair, the report added.

The controversial mail reportedly hints at England's willingness to approve bilateral justice agreements with Libya signing off on a lucrative, job-producing arms deal involving a British-made air defense system called 'Jernas'.

Meanwhile, a Blair spokesman has clarified that the prisoner transfer agreements cited within Fean's email did not pertain to Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, convicted in 2001.

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First Published: Jul 29 2013 | 4:08 PM IST

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