UNITED STATES -- Did British Petroleum play a role in lobbying for release of the lone suspect jailed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, to clear the way for an oil deal with Libya? The 1988 terror attack killed 270 people, including 35 students from Syracuse University.

In recent days, U.S. lawmakers have been demanding that British leaders launch an investigation of the release of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi a year ago. His life sentence was shortened on compassionate grounds after claims his prostate cancer would kill him in just three months. Now, doctors say he could live another 10 years.

In Syracuse, New York's junior U.S. Senator says she will hold the British to their promises for a review that could lead to a full probe.

"We need to know exactly what happened, because at the end of the day, this is about how we fight terrorism. We need to know that is we convicted a terrorist that we can guarantee the rule of law and know that that terrorist will be put into jail forever," said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

Meanwhile, three freshmen congressman, Dan Maffei of Syracuse, Michael McMahon of Staten Island and Christopher Lee from Western New York, sent a new letter to the British Prime Minister calling for a complete investigation.