Libyans Paid for Lockerbie Bomber's Terminal Diagnosis

Libya footed the bill for medical evidence that suggested the Lockerbie bomber had just 3 months to live, the Sunday Telegraph reports. The Libyan government pushed doctors to make the prognosis, required in Scotland for the release of prisoners on grounds of compassion. “The figure of three months was suggested as being helpful (by the Libyans),” said one doctor. “To start with I said it was impossible to do that.”

“But when I looked at it,” he continued, “it looked as though it could be done—you could actually say that.” Meanwhile, the Telegraph finds that Libya’s foreign minister warned of the reaction that would be prompted by Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi’s death in jail. The minister “stated that Mr al-Megrahi’s death in Scotland would not be viewed well by the Muslims or Arabs. Nor would it be good for relations,” according to minutes of a meeting between Scottish and Libyan officials.