Megrahi was convicted of murdering 270 people in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing The UK feared harsh action by Libya against British interests if the Lockerbie bomber died in jail, cables published by Wikileaks claim.
The US diplomatic documents reveal London’s full support for the early release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.
The details, published in the Guardian, allege Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi made “thuggish” threats to halt all trade deals if Megrahi stayed in jail.
The UK was “between a rock and a hard place”, one cable to Washington said.
The British ambassador allegedly told a US diplomat in Libya that the Libyans could “cut us off at the knees”.
British diplomats planned dramatic and pre-emptive measures preparing for hostile demonstrations and leaving only essential staff in the embassy.
The details are the latest revelations on the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks to appear in the Guardian.
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