Cameron refuses to meet US senators on BP-Lockerbie row

London, July 20(ANI): British Prime Minister David Cameron has refused to meet American senators to formally discuss allegations that BP had lobbied for the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.

Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Charles Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, and Bob Menendez had requested for a meeting with Cameron this week.

The senators have been calling for an investigation into allegations that BP lobbied for the early release of al-Megrahi, who was convicted for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am flight 103, which killed 270 people.

"Considering our many ties and common interests, we are certain you appreciate the considerable concern that we have that a terrorist convicted for the death of 270 people, most of them our countries' citizens, continues to live in freedom and comfort eleven months after release because he was judged to be near death," The Telegraph quoted the senators' letter to the Downing Street, as saying.

"We have read the reports of the correspondence between the former British government and the Scottish government with respect to negotiations with the Government of Libya, particularly whether the Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA) would include Mr. al-Meghrahi."

"We have also been dismayed to hear from a BP representative that the company actively lobbied the previous government on behalf of the PTA, and media reports suggest BP even tried to address the release of this individual," the letter added.

However, Cameron has denied that the decision had anything to do with BP, which is already under intense pressure in the US following the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. (ANI)