Hague looks for Lockerbie and Fletcher justice
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.William Hague today played down suggestions that the new Libyan government will block fresh efforts to secure justice for the Lockerbie bombing and Yvonne Fletcher murder.
The Foreign Secretary said the leader of the National Transitional Council (NTC) had pledged to "cooperate fully" with the British authorities.
Hopes have been raised in the case of WPC Fletcher - who was shot while policing a protest outside the Libyan embassy in 1984 - after junior diplomat Abdulmagid Salah Ameri was named as the prime suspect.
However, the Sunday Times reported that NTC member Hassan al-Sagheer had dismissed the prospect of a British trial being held.
He also apparently rejected the idea that the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, could be returned to prison in the UK.
"Libya has never extradited or handed over its citizens to a foreign country," Mr Ameri said. "We shall continue with this principle."
Speaking in a round of broadcast interviews this morning, Mr Hague said: "This is an ongoing police investigation so it is quite difficult for me to comment.
"I would say that when chairman (Mustafa Abdel) Jalil, the chairman of the National Transitional Council, was with us in London in May he committed himself and the council to co-operating fully with the British government on this issue.
"It is true, it is a fact, that there is no extradition treaty with Libya. but we look to them to cooperate fully.
"So I would not take what has been written in the press today as the last word."
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments