20111213
Islam Times
Libya would allow the British police to enter the country to hold an inquiry into the Lockerbie bombing and murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher, Foreign Minister Alistair Burt said.

Libya's National Transitional Council formerly stalled the request of Scottish officials who had called on NTC to provide them with documents or witnesses over the Lockerbie bombing. Libya's transitional Justice Minister Mohammed al-Alagi had even said "the case is closed," and that NTC officials would not release further evidence that could lead to more Libyan nationals being charged.

But Burt, who is on a visit to Libyan capital Tripoli, insisted that the Libya's new government would cooperate with the British officials over the bombing of the US plane over Lockerbie in Scotland. He added Libyan Interior Minister, Fawzy Abdul Aal, said on Thursday that he would "agree to the early return of the Dumfries and Galloway police in relation to Lockerbie."

Burt also said that Abdul Aal would help the British officials in probing the death of policewoman Fletcher, killed in 1984 in front of Libyan embassy in London. "We are very keen that the Metropolitan police should return to continue their investigation. The Libyan government is aware of how important it is," added Burt.

However, the British minister stressed that the Libyan officials had not yet announced the time of the visits. "I don't know [why there is no date]. This is a new government, I think they have a lot on their plate."

Analysts believe that Libya's green light to British police to visit Libya for probing Lockerbie bombing and Fletcher's death was made under the pressure of British government, as it offered Libya the chance for security training from the army and the Metropolitan police. Britain also offered it would send UK security and education consultants to work in Libya.

Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only Libyan man convicted of the bombing, was freed by the Scottish government on compassionate grounds following a medical advice that Megrahi had only three months to live suffering from terminal prostate cancer.

Al-Alagi formerly said that Megrahi had spent 10 years in Scottish prison, and British officials could not prosecute him again as his release had been approved by the Scottish and British governments.