Hexham parents of Lockerbie victim say review 'is not enough'

It follows the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohamed al Megrahi, the only man to be convicted of the bombing, and his return to Libya in August on compassionate grounds.

TV reports claimed last week he had died, but that was later revealed to be incorrect.

News of the fresh police work emerged after members of a Lockerbie families' group handed in a letter at 10 Downing Street on Friday, asking for a meeting with Gordon Brown to discuss renewed calls for a full independent inquiry into the bombing.

Mr and Mrs Berkley, of Sandhoe near Hexham, are leading members of the UK Families Flight 103 group. Yesterday Mr Berkley, 80, said the further police investigation into what happened was a 'useful move', but was not the ultimate aim of victims' families.

"This was the worst air disaster in British history, with 270 people killed, and we think it is absolutely scandalous there has never been a full explanation of what happened," he said.

"We want a full, independent inquiry in the hope that all available material can be made public and properly looked at, including evidence that Megrahi was going to put forward at his appeal.

"What we are hoping that will reveal is who instigating the bombing of the plane.

"Quite obviously, one man was not responsible himself for blowing up a plane. He was just an agent and we need a full explanation of how and why that plane was blown up. Was Libya behind it, or was it done at the request of some other group or state?"

Yesterday Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he had not spoken to Libya about the decision to reopen the investigation into the bombing.

And he said it was a matter for the Scottish authorities whether a public inquiry was held. But a Scottish Government spokesman said: "We would welcome a wide-ranging inquiry into the circumstances of the Lockerbie atrocity, and we stand ready to assist in any way we can.

"Given the international dimensions to this issue, the remit of any such inquiry goes well beyond the restricted remit and responsibilities of the Scottish Government or Scottish Parliament, and would therefore have to be convened by those with the required powers.

"Scottish authorities would co-operate in full in any such inquiry, and our police and prosecution services have done an excellent job throughout the Lockerbie investigation."

Lindsey Miller, a senior procurator fiscal who was involved in preparing evidence for Megrahi's trial, has told victims' families that a further review of the case is under way and several potential lines of inquiry are being considered.

It is believed that four detectives from Dumfries and Galloway Police are working on the case full-time.

The release of Megrahi, 57, who has terminal cancer, led to a storm of protest from American relatives of Lockerbie victims. He was convicted of the mass murder in 2001 before a panel of Scottish judges at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands and told he would spend a minimum of 27 years in prison before being considered for parole.

He twice appealed against his conviction, arguing the guilty verdict had been a miscarriage of justice - finally dropping his second appeal.

LOCKERBIE: KEY DATES

December 21, 1988: Pan Am Flight 103 from Heathrow to New York explodes over Lockerbie, killing all 259 people on board and 11 people in the town.

November 14, 1991: US and Britain accuse two Libyans, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, of the bombing. Libya denies any involvement.

December 11, 1996: Megrahi insists he is innocent and says he is willing to stand trial in a neutral country.

May 3, 2000: Lockerbie trial opens at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands under Scottish law. The two men are charged with conspiracy, murder and contravention of the Aviation Security Act 1982.

January 31, 2001: After the trial, Megrahi is found guilty of mass murder and jailed for life.

May 29, 2007: Tony Blair hails the strength of the relationship between the UK and Libya after talks with Col Gaddafi result in a Memorandum of Understanding

October 21, 2008: It is confirmed that Megrahi has been diagnosed with prostate cancer which has spread to other parts of his body and is at an advanced stage.

April 29, 2009: A prisoner transfer agreement (PTA) between the UK and Libya comes into force allowing Megrahi to apply to serve the rest of his sentence in a Libyan jail.

August 20, 2009: Mr MacAskill announces his decision that Megrahi is to be returned to Libya on compassionate grounds. US President Barack Obama says the decision is a "mistake".

August 21, 2009: The UK and the US condemn the "hero's welcome" given to Megrahi as he arrives back in Libya.

September 17, 2009: It is revealed Lockerbie campaigners have written to the United Nations calling for a public inquiry into the disaster.

October 24, 2009: Relatives welcome news there could be a review into the atrocity.