NO Scottish police officers have visited Libya as part of the reinvestigation into the Lockerbie bombing more than a year after the Gaddafi regime was toppled, it was revealed.
A fresh inquiry into the bombing was announced last October.
Much has been made of the "live" investigation and the Crown Office's plans to unearth new documents and evidence following the collapse of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's regime.
However, the high-profile plans to re-investigate the Lockerbie bombing now appear to have stalled with the revelation that the Metropolitan Police have travelled to Tripoli to investigate the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher but no visas for Scottish officers have been issued.
In May, the Herald revealed that Frank Mulholland, the Lord Advocate, had been on a secret mission to Libya to pave the way for further investigation into the Lockerbie bombing.
He travelled to Tripoli with FBI director Robert Mueller to meet Libyan Prime Minister Abdurahim el-Keib and other officials, including the justice minister Ali Hamiada Ashour.
It was thought the Libyan Transitional Government had agreed that UK and Scottish police could begin work in the country.
But while officers from the Met travelled to Libya in July to progress the investigation into the policewoman's murder, no Scottish officer has been granted access.
Dumfries and Galloway Police, the lead force on Lockerbie, said it continued to assist the Crown and US authorities.
Detective Superintendent Mickey Dalgleish, said: "The investigation into the involvement of others with Megrahi in the Lockerbie bombing remains open and Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary continues to work with Crown Office and US authorities to pursue available lines of enquiry."
Assurances have been given to the new Libyan Prime Minister by the Crown Office about the terms of the fresh Lockerbie investigation following initial claims that no treaty existed for UK police to visit Libya.
A number of the relatives of the Lockerbie bombing have expressed concerns about the validity of information to be found in Libya following the collapse of the old regime.
Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter died in the bombing which killed 270 people, said: "Their plan to gather more evidence in Libya to pin on Megrahi is based on shifting sands.
"Megrahi was not guilty, but that does not mean there was involvement by the higher echelons in the Libyan regime."
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