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Gaddafi's son pledges court fight over cash for IRA victims
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor07.09.09
Gordon Brown faced fresh embarrassment over Britain's links to Libya today after Colonel Gaddafi's son vowed to fight compensation for IRA terror victims.
In the latest fall-out from the Lockerbie bomber case, Tripoli slapped down calls for payouts despite a pledge from the Prime Minister to help families whose relatives were killed by Semtex supplied by Libya.
The rebuff from Saif Gaddafi came as the Tories and Liberal Democrats seized on growing confusion over the Government's relations with the north African state.
Mr Brown over-ruled the Foreign Office yesterday to order help for IRA victims' families in their fight for compensation.
But Schools Secretary Ed Balls confirmed that Mr Brown was still refusing to negotiate directly with Tripoli over the issue because that would "sour and damage" relations with Libya.
Mr Balls also became the first Cabinet minister to state publicly that he and others opposed the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, saying: "None of us wanted to see the release of Megrahi."
Mr Brown was accused of making a partial U-turn over IRA compensation after he announced that Foreign Office officials would be tasked to help lawyers suing the Libyan Government.
Previously, he had made clear that it was "inappropriate" for him to lobby Colonel Gaddafi for compensation.
The Prime Minister claimed that Libya's decision to give up its nuclear weapons programme was the main factor in his decision, but he also made repeated reference to trade links.
Suspicion over the Government's dealings with Libya have intensified since the release of Megrahi by the Scottish government last month. Mr Brown insisted last week that there was "no conspiracy... no deal for oil".
But in recent days it has emerged that trade has indeed played a central role in efforts to restore relations with Tripoli.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw admitted at the weekend that trade and a BP oil deal had been an "essential part" of a decision to include the bomber in a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya.
In a letter to one bombing victim, Foreign Office minister Bill Rammell also cited Libya's key role in "guaranteeing a secure energy future for the UK".
The Tories and Liberal Democrats stepped up their demands for a public inquiry into the Lockerbie case, claiming that the "ever-expanding fiasco" of the Government's links to Libya now merited closer examination.
Jason McCue, who represents some of the victims of IRA terrorism, said that he was delighted that Mr Brown had over-ruled the Foreign Office line on the issue.
But Saif Gaddafi told Sky News that said any compensation arising from alleged Libyan arms supplies to the terror group would be a matter for "the courts".
"They (the victims' families) have their lawyers, we have our lawyers," he said. When asked if his answer to the compensation demand would be "no" in the first instance, he replied: "Of course."
Mr Balls stressed that while some help would be given to the families' independent campaign for compensation, there would be no formal "government-to-government" negotiations on the issue.
"To attempt to do so now would both not succeed and sour and damage a relationship which is not about economics or oil, it's about working together to make sure British people are safe from international terrorism.
"The important thing is to be open and honest about the difficult foreign policy judgements to be made here."
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Government should itself intervene to back the compensation claim.
He said: "If he's going to make a U-turn it needs to be a proper U-turn. What we have is a Prime Minister who wriggles when something appears in the newspapers.
"This is a fiasco which hasn't increased Britain's respect across the world."
Reader views (12)
No suprise really, the pursuit of money corrupts all. You cannot take a moral position when all you see is the cash at the end of the rainbow.
- William Bailey, wgtn
RF York beat me to it with the Kennedy/IRA funding question.
On the subject of compensation. The American families of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing received many millions of dollars each. Maybe the same sort of mega dollar figure should be used as a compensation benchmark for all of the innocent victims killed by US bombs in the world. Amazing how much they squeal when attacked considering the huge casualties they cause themselves.
Also more Americans are killed by Americans every year than were killed at the Twin Towers. How about compensation from the appropriate gun manufacturers? Do not see the point in singling Libya out. Though true to form, the squealing money grabbing Americans have been compensated by them. Easy to see why only they could obtain an extradition treaty from a 'special relationship' ally that only works one way.
- Harry H, London UK
I assume that Gordon will have no objection to compensating the Russians killed or injured in Afghanistan with weapons supplied by us to the enemy we are now fighting there?
- Michael, London
Brown has scant regard for the relatives of victims murdered by IRA terrorists - as was evidenced when he awarded Ted Kennedy (one of the terrorists' staunchest supporter) an honorary knighthood. The relatives should be seeking compensation from Sinn Fein and/or the Kennedy estate.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
What depths we have sunk down to, why are we dealing with this despot in the first place?,it seems to me the UK parliamentarians have lost all self respect,and gusto, they would deal with the Devil if it feathered their pockets, its just a extension of the expenses scandal, which has not been resolved,it all stinks and no one is doing anything about it, everyone is looking to Cameron as the countries savior, well be careful, after Brown, anyone can look like a shining light, the fact is, he is sitting on the fence not knowing which way to jump, he knew about the Lockerbie bomber situation long before he was released, but failed to say anything until he landed in Libya, not exactly a dynamic outspoken future leader?.
We should tell Libya to go to hell, and install this country with 70 top notch nuclear power stations, apologise to the Americans for releasing a murdering terrorist, this country needs better leadership, and one with some balls, I want my country back, we are sinking deeper into the mire they call the EU, and most people in this country don't like it.
- David Crocket, Bradford, UK
Why dont the victims of the IRA outrages seek restitution from the former IRA men, now democratically elected leaders of the Northern Ireland government?
- H, London, UK
I assume that the Prime Minister will also be supporting the revetives of those killed in iRA atrocities who choose to bring claims against the US Govenment for failing to proscribe fundraising for terrorist activites by so called "Irish American" organisations.
We should remember that the US administration only acted against US organisations funding terrorism in Irland in the wake of 9/11.
- Mike, london
Good idea Peterb!
Why don't we harass the USA also for compensation because they basically funded the IRA (through fund-raisng events etc) up until 9/11...
- Mc, London
The idea of Libya paying for IRA bombing is absolutely ludicrous. The world is littered with UK manufactured mines, bombs, instruments of torture and lethal drugs/chemicals. Is the UK to be held financially responsible for how they are used, by whom and who gets hurt? There cannot be any sane reason for pursuing the Libyans over this. The only explanation can be that sleazy Labour politicians and their associates are arranging lengthy careers in the Courts pursuing these pointless claims after they've been thrown from office.
- Maggie, Acton, UK
Gormless Gordon and wee Davy Millibrain have been stitched up like a pair of kippers by the Libyians over the whole Magahri affair. How the whole of the free world must both detest and laugh at our hopeless PM
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi
The whole issue with international diplomacy and Gordon Brown shows that he is absolutely incompetant. What has Mr Brown actually done for Britain since he became our unelected leader? I can't understand why a country as great as ours allows someone like him in charge. Time for change and I hope Cameron has the balls to make changes, even if they may seem unpopular at the time. We need a radical and strong leader, who LISTENS but is dynamic enough to steer us in a slightly different direction. (I am even warming to the Thatcher years and her aggressive ways, I must be going soft in the head).
- Rod, Epping, UK
This should be an easy deal to negotiate, why not give IRA victims a special share allocation in BP and when profits come on stream from Libya the victims will benefit. Simples.
And morally justified as BP are trading in blood oil with this useless labour government in Libya.
- Peterb, Chelmsford, England
