Governments pledges to reveal full facts of Lockerbie bombing

In a joint statement released on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy, the three administrations also expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

The statement says: “On the 25th anniversary of the bombing of Pan American flight 103 over Lockerbie on 21 December 1988, the governments of Libya, the United Kingdom and United States of America reiterate their deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this terrible crime.

“We want all those responsible for this most brutal act of terrorism brought to justice, and to understand why it was committed.

“We are committed to co-operate fully in order to reveal the full facts of the case.”

Scotland’s top law officer, Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland, announced last week that Libya had appointed two prosecutors to work on the investigation into the bombing.

The joint statement continues: “We will all provide full support to the investigation team to enable them to complete their inquiries successfully.

“We are striving to further deepen our co-operation and welcome the visit by UK and US investigators to Libya in the near future to discuss all aspects of that co-operation, including sharing of information and documents and access to witnesses.”

Libyan Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was the only person convicted of the bombing. He was released from jail by the Scottish government on compassionate grounds after being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and died last year protesting his innocence.

Megrahi’s family have said they plan to appeal against his conviction, while some of the British relatives of Lockerbie victims said they are also considering making another appeal.

Robert Mueller, the former head of the FBI, said he believes more people will be charged.

The 270 victims of the Lockerbie bombing have been remembered on the 25th anniversary of the atrocity. Memorial events were held in the town in southern Scotland, at Westminster Abbey in London and at Arlington National Cemetery in the US. Most of those killed were Americans.

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond and Lord Wallace, Advocate General for Scotland, joined families of those killed and members of the community to lay wreaths at Dryfesdale cemetery in Lockerbie.

An evening service themed around “looking forward” was held later at Dryfesdale Church.

At the same time, hundreds of people gathered at commemorative services at Westminster Abbey and Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC.

Pan Am flight 103 was on its way from London to New York when it exploded above Lockerbie, on the evening of December 21, 1988, killing everyone on board and 11 people on the ground.

Mr Salmond paid tribute to the community spirit shown in the aftermath. “Out of disaster, there are the bonds of friendship, he said.

“Lockerbie has been a welcoming place for the relatives of those who died, and over the last 25 years has taken as good care of people as it possibly could.

“I don’t think you ever move on, you certainly never forget, but people do rebuild their lives and many have.’’