PLATFORM generated two articles in Sunday’s Observer that highlight the collaboration between the Foreign Office and Shell over Libya. The documents referred to show the deep and long-term foreign policy backing provided by the British government to Shell in its efforts to break into Libya. Corporate executives have easy access to the highest level of Whitehall, while democracy advocates and social movements remain shut out on the street.

[The FCO’s documents claimed that Prince Charles had attended a reception in Tripoli with Shell. A furious phone call from the Prince’s office corrected this – he was at a reception in Cairo with Shell where Egypt’s oil was discussed. Seem that the FCO can’t keep track of their own lobbying for on behalf of British oil companies.]

Revealed: how Shell won the fight for Libyan gas and oil[1]
Documents reveal orchestrated campaign by ministers, mandarins and royalty

Secret documents uncover UK’s interest in Libyan oil[2]
Negotiations fuel rumours of commercial deal behind Megrahi’s release