01 September,2009 11:38 AM IST | | AFP
The White House said today that Scotland made "the wrong decision" by releasing the convicted Lockerbie bomber, but declined to comment on charges that British oil interests played a role.
"The motivation for the British is a question for the British," said spokesman Robert Gibbs, who underlined that Washington had pushed for Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi to serve out his life sentence in Scotland.
"We continue to believe that's the case and continue to believe that this was the wrong decision," Gibbs said.
His comments came after Britain denied any link between trade with Libya and Megrahi's release after a news report suggested London was swayed by an oil deal into making him eligible for a prison transfer home.
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Megrahi was released from a Scottish prison after serving just eight years for the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, which killed 270 people.
The decision and the jubilant homecoming for Megrahi, who has terminal prostate cancer, sparked anger from the US administration as well as many US relatives of the victims.
