By Jason Lewis, Mail on Sunday Security Editor and Nabila Ramdani

　　Last updated at 3:49 AM on 06th September 2009 Claims that Prince Andrew held secret ‘detailed discussions’ over the release of the Lockerbie bomber with Colonel Gaddafi’s son were at the centre of a simmering diplomatic row last night.

　　Libyan officials yesterday claimed the Prince held off-the-record talks with Saif al-Islam Gaddafi days after Libya formally applied for convicted terrorist Abdelbaset Al Megrahi’s release.

　　But last night, despite the Libyan assertions, Buckingham Palace denied any meetings or discussions had taken place between the Prince and Mr Gaddafi on the issue.

　　The alleged Royal intervention in the controversial affair came while the Prince was on an official Foreign Office-sponsored trip to Algeria in May to open Britain’s new embassy in the country.

　　Libyan government officials say Colonel Gaddafi’s son – who would later give the terrorist a hero’s welcome on his return to Tripoli – made a special visit to Algiers to discuss the developments with the Prince, Britain’s special representative on trade and investment.

　　The pair are said to have become friends after Andrew made several official and unofficial trips to Libya. Mr Gaddafi has also been a guest at Windsor Castle.

　　The Prince’s formal role is to help secure trade and investment deals for Britain and he was in Algeria at the behest of the Foreign Office.

　　The involvement of the Prince would raise new questions about the deal done with Libya to free Megrahi, the man convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103.

　　But told of the Libyan claims the Prince had played a key role in the affair, Buckingham Palace last night issued a categoric denial.

　　A spokesman said: ‘We can categorically say that no meetings or discussions took place between the Duke of York and Mr Gaddafi in Algiers on any issue. The Duke has only met Mr Gaddafi on two occasions and was unaware they were in Algiers at the same time.’

　　He added: ‘It is categorically untrue that the Duke of York met Saif Gaddafi in Algeria.’ Libya formally applied for Megrahi’s release on May 5 and the British Government has maintained that the decision to free him, which has led to widespread protests from the relatives of those who died in the atrocity and from the US Government, was made on compassionate grounds by the Scottish Justice Minister, Kenny MacAskill.

　　Gordon Brown has insisted that the release of Megrahi, who has terminal cancer, was in no way linked to any trade deals, including a multi-billion-pound oil exploration contract with Libya secured by BP.

　　But, according to the Libyan officials, two weeks after Libya’s formal application for the bomber’s release, 37-year-old Saif, Colonel Gaddafi’s heir apparent, flew to Algiers to meet Andrew and lobby him over the issue.

　　The pair are said to have stayed in the same government guest house in the capital and to have had a long informal discussion on the implications of Megrahi’s release on Anglo-Libyan relations.

　　A senior government official in Tripoli said: ‘Prince Andrew has an excellent relationship with Saif al-Islam, and the pair discussed all important matters relating to their two countries, including the fate of Megrahi, who was then in prison in Scotland. This was quite normal, and entirely in order with diplomatic protocol.

　　‘Saif al-Islam wanted to see Andrew. That’s why he visited Algiers at the same time.

　　‘Debate about the incarceration of our brother Megrahi was dominating Libya at the time, and it was entirely right that it should have been discussed with a senior representative of the UK. The Algeria meeting was a perfect opportunity for views to be aired.’

　　Last night the Foreign Office insisted it had ‘no knowledge’ of the meeting between the Prince and Mr Gaddafi in Algiers.

　　But an Algerian source who met both Andrew and Saif al-Islam in Algeria in May said: ‘It certainly appeared curious that the pair were in Algiers at the same time, but there was a good reason – they were meeting for detailed discussions about all aspects of Anglo-Libyan relations in a neutral venue.’

　　Andrew has met the Libyan leader’s son at least four times since November 2007; twice on unofficial visits to Libya, once at a ‘chance’ meeting in Tunis and last February on the official visit.

　　Andrew arrived in Algeria on Sunday, May 17, and stayed in the capital for three days. The national newspaper Liberte noted at the time ‘the two curiously simultaneous visits by Prince Andrew and Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi to Algiers’.

　　It added: ‘All are led to believe that the two visits come under the same logic.’ Every American who continues to support the present UK government by traveling to the UK, purchasing products from the UK, using financial services from the UK and most importantly buy the oil from the UK (British Petroleum) in my opinion are now as guilty of endorsing the release of this CRIMINAL as is the current Prime Minister and his government. I certainly hope and I will tell every American I know to discontinue purchasing UK products and travel packages and other goods and services UNTIL the present British government is dissolved by the Queen and a new government with NEW leadership is selected by the people of the UK. I have faith that the British people will be as OUTRAGED by this as I know Americans are and let Gordon Brown know that he really now must go at once. There is the work of evil at hand here, and at the root of that evil is money. But now it won't be mine and as an American I hope American's everywhere will respond in kind. - David Winser, Washington, 06/9/2009 11:41 The Royal Family are supposed to be outside politics therefore it is ridiculous to have Andrew as a trade "whatever" because as such he will be exposed to and have to make decisions based on Politics. Remove him at once. He is a liability to the Queen an the rest of the Royal Family. He is Britain's "Own Goal". - worldplayer, St. Lucia, 06/9/2009 11:39 For what was supposedly a Scottish only decision, there seems to be lots of high-up British involvement in this for some years. The start of the shenanigans pre-dates the SNP administration when it was all Labour controlled top to bottom. It's a fa鏰de. No wonder the SNP have just unveiled the independence bill. - Bob, London, 06/9/2009 11:17 My God even the Royal family has been brought into disripute over this Libyian Farce. Andrew has a lot to answer for and by boy will his father will sort him out. - anion, tyneside, 06/9/2009 11:13 Why is a royal consorting with Gaddafi's son?

　　Stick to what you do best Andrew - using tax-payers money for your waste-of-space daughters ... & playing golf. - Mollie, LoS, 06/9/2009 10:21 Andrew should keep his nose out of any affairs to do with government and sensitive issues...He is not the brightest of the pack except where getting freebies are concerned....That he seems to have honed very well...

　　He seems to think that the public purse is there for his sole benefit and that of his hangers on...He is not alone of course..There are many of them..

　　The only time I am pleased to see his name is on a tin of Liver Salts...!!!! - filmex, London, 06/9/2009 10:18 The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. FEMAIL TODAY

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