BP-Lockerbie bomber probe ordered

WASHINGTON, July 14 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department must investigate British oil giant BP for alleged links between Libyan oil deals and the Lockerbie bomber, U.S. lawmakers say.

BP begins drilling in Libyan waters this month as part of a $900 million deal secured in 2007. Observers of the 2007 deal note that it came as convicted Pan Am Flight 103 bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was added to a prisoner-transfer agreement between London and Tripoli.

Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill on Aug. 20 released Megrahi, the lone suspect in the 1988 bombing, on compassion terms as the former Libyan intelligence officer allegedly suffered from terminal cancer. At the time, it was expected his death was imminent, though Megrahi is still living.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., joined a list of senators calling for a probe into the allegations.

Schumer writes in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that BP allegedly told the British government in September that the 2007 deal faced delays unless Megrahi was released.

"The information that such an investigation would yield is important to fully determine the legitimacy of the decision to release this mass murderer and to fully understand the source of revenue streams for this corporation, which owes American taxpayers and coastal families billions of dollars," the letter read.

Schumer in his letter goes on to say BP's conduct in the aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill shows the company would rather "put profit ahead of people."

Schumer was joined by U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.; Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.; and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.