JNN 09 Dec 2010 : Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was influential in the release of the Lockerbie bomber by Scottish officials, the newly published WikiLeaks cables show.

The British government has emerged to have given its full support to the Scottish officials over the release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi for fear of “harsh and immediate action” by Libya if he died in prison.

The Leaks claim Gaddafi pressured London by raising the possibility of scrapping mutual trade deals while imposing limitations on the British embassy staff in Tripoli unless Megrhi was let out of jail.

Libya is also said to have proposed “treats” to the Scottish devolved government to facilitate the bomber’s release.

“The Libyans have told HMG [Her Majesty’s Government] flat out that there will be ‘enormous repercussions’ for the UK-Libya bilateral relationship if Megrahi’s early release is not handled properly,” wrote American charge d’affaires in London Richard LeBaron to Washington in October 2008.

Based on the WikiLeaks files, the source of the information passed by LeBaron to his bosses were Britain’s North Africa Advisors at No 10 and the Foreign Office.

Al-Megrahi was released in August last year with Scottish officials justifying their decision saying he is suffering from terminal prostate cancer and has just a few months to live. More than a year after his release, al-Megrahi is still living in his home country.