allisnow | This is what I was afraid of

Looks like the story still has legs.

Libyan suggestions that the UK released convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi in exchange for trade considerations has raised the spectre of Tripoli engaging in oil diplomacy, says the BBC's Rana Jawad, in the Libyan capital.

Even as the British Foreign Office denied the claims, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was hinting at the same allegation made by his son, Seif al-Islam, hours earlier.

"This step [Megrahi's release] is for the benefit of relations between Britain and Libya, and relations of personal friendship between me and them, and it will certainly be positively reflected in all fields of co-operation between the two countries," Col Gaddafi is reported to have said during his first meeting with the convicted Lockerbie bomber.

The UK government has vigorously denied that any under-the-table dealings were struck to secure Megrahi's release from jail on compassionate grounds.

However, this will do little to ease suspicions among its critics among the UK and US public that a deal was struck behind closed doors.

And this on ToL:

Scotland's government faces a fight for its survival as the furor over its decision to free the Lockerbie bomber escalated last night.

Opposition parties north of the Border are preparing to hold a confidence vote over the decision by Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary, to free Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi. Alex Salmond, the First Minister, has confirmed that he would resign if the Holyrood vote went against him.

According to these articles - although I haven't seen it on the news here - some folks are calling for a boycott on Scottish products to protest the release, whatever the reasons were behind it. I just don't know how you could tell if something was Scottish-made. According to Wiki, "Scotland's primary exports include whisky, electronics and financial services." I don't drink whiskey and I don't need financial services... and when was the last time the sticker on your stereo or video game said 'Made in Scotland'?

I guess it could he a symbolic boycott if we just all stop wearing plaid.