Prime Minister David Cameron will meet with four Senate Democrats today to discuss whether BP played a role in the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, an allegation the company so far denies.
The senators called on BP to suspend all drilling operations in Libya so the State Department can conduct an investigation into allegations that the company worked behind the scenes to help coordinate the release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi in order to finalize plans for a $900 million drilling project in the African country.
While Cameron had originally declined a meeting with the senators, press reports today say the prime minister has now agreed to meet with Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). Menendez will chair a July 29 hearing in the Senate Finance Committee on the release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, who was convicted of organizing the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. BP will be asked to testify at the hearing.
BP said it voiced concerns to the British government that the slow transfer of al-Megrahi out of prison in Scotland could have implications for the ratification of their Libyan drilling deal. But the company denies being involved in the final decision to release al-Megrahi.
Cameron will also meet with President Obama this morning to discuss a number of issues, including the oil spill and BP’s potential involvement in the release of al-Megrahi.
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