Miliband Clarifies Latest Megrahi Claims

The Westminster government did not want Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi to "die in prison", the Foreign Secretary has confirmed.

Despite admitting both he and the Prime Minister Gordon Brown did not want to see the Libyan national to die in Scotland, David Miliband dismissed suggestions any "double-dealing" took place.

Mr Miliband said "no pressure" was placed on the Scottish Parliament, who the decision to release the terrorist rested with.

Speaking to the BBC, the Foreign Secretary said the UK had "never expressed a different view" to the United States over the matter.

David Cameron, the Conservative Party Leader, called on all ministers to be "straight" about their position.

Megrahi was released from jail on compassionate grounds, after serving just eight years of a life sentence.

He was convicted for his part in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in December 1988, killing 270 people.

The Scottish Justice Minister sparked worldwide debate after ruling terminal ill Megrahi could return home to die.

Gordon Brown is still to fully clarify his stance on the move, despite suggesting he found news footage of Megrahi's homecoming "sickening".

It has emerged former Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell told Libya the Prime Minister did not want to see Megrahi die in jail.

However, Mr Rammell said he had not raised the issue directly with Mr Brown, who is set to speak to the press later today.

This morning Mr Miliband told the BBC: "We did not want him to die in prison. No, we weren't seeking his death in prison. We have been absolutely clear."

Responding to Mr Rammell's comments, he added: "He was asked by the Libyans whether or not we wanted Megrahi to die in jail.

"He said we weren't actively seeking his death in jail, and he explained very clearly that under our constitution this was a matter of Scottish law, and a matter for the Scottish government."

(PR/BMcC)