1988 bombing of Pan Am 103
NEW YORK (AP) -- U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Robert Menendez are hoping British and Scottish officials reconsider their decisions not to appear at a hearing this week on the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is looking into the circumstances around his 2009 release. The senators are probing whether an oil exploration deal between oil giant BP and Libya influenced the decision.
Menendez said Monday that Scottish officials have declined, as has former British justice secretary Jack Straw.
The committee also wants to hear from BP Chief Tony Hayward at Thursday's hearing. Hayward is facing a decision on whether the board of BP will keep him in that position. However, Menendez said he should testify no matter what.
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