Given assurances
He told BBC’s Newsnight that “the Scottish government was willing to publish every significant matter as far as this
decision making is concerned”.
Mr Salmond denied it was naive of the government to think Mr Megrahi would not be given a rapturous reception in Libya.
“The assurances were offered by the Libyans. These assurances were that the return would be low-key and sensitive, and we
were appalled and thought the return to Libya was wrong.
“I think when people offer assurances they should be taken and when they don’t keep these assurances, that’s not the fault
of the Scottish government.”
He would not be drawn on whether it was right or wrong for Prime Minister Gordon Brown to remain silent on the subject.
The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg said the prime minister was in a difficult position.
“If he was perceived to support the decision, he would incur American wrath, but the opposite could infuriate the Libyans,”
she said.
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Monday the Duke of York would not be going to Libya on a trade trip next month.
The justice secretary told parliament that assurances had been given by the Libyan government that Megrahi’s return would be
treated in a “low-key” manner.
Scottish ministers have maintained that the decision to release Megrahi on compassionate grounds – which has been strongly
criticised by the US government – followed due process and was the right one.
Going on the attack in parliament, Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray demanded to know whether any pressure was put on Megrahi
in his decision to drop the appeal against his conviction, ahead of the move to grant him early release.
“Last week, the Scottish Government made a wrong decision, in the wrong way, with the wrong consequences,” said Mr Gray.
“The cabinet secretary has mishandled this whole affair from start to finish.”
Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie said Mr MacAskill’s decision was not made in the name of Scotland – and said Megrahi
should have been allowed to live out his days in a safe house or hospice in Scotland, which she argued would have avoided
Thursday’s scenes in Libya.
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