IS FIRST MINISTER WAVERING ON LOCKERBIE POSITION?

4.48.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 7th May 2009

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, today commented after Libdem Leader Tavish Scott challenged the First Minister to stand by his earlier pledge for the convicted Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, to serve his sentence in Scotland.

Jim Hume said:

"In June 2007, the First Minister was very clear. He said Scottish law officers and the Secretary General of the United Nations gave assurances that Megrahai would serve his sentence in Scotland. In 2008 he said 'anybody connected and convicted of the Lockerbie bombing should serve their sentences under Scottish jurisdiction.'

"But, now his Government has the final say, he's suddenly not so sure.

"The First Minister needs to respect the verdict from the Scottish courts and see that this sentence is served in Scotland."

Ends

Notes to Editors:

During the First Minister's statement to the Scottish Parliament in June 2007, he said:

"The question of prisoner transfer is particularly important, not least in relation to the case of Mr Al Megrahi, the Libyan who was convicted in a Scottish court of the Lockerbie bombing…At the time, the Scottish law officers and others, including the secretary-general of the United Nations, gave assurances that any sentence that was imposed would be served in Scotland."

The First Minister's statement in 2008 can be found here: http://www.snp.org/node/13637