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UK/Libya - Lockerbie release

Megrahi to be released on compassionate grounds

Article published on the 2009-08-13 Latest update 2009-08-13 16:17 TU

Al-Megrahi's wife, Aisha (Photo: AFP)

Al-Megrahi's wife, Aisha
(Photo: AFP)

The Libyan jailed for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi, is to be freed on compassionate grounds, according to British media reports.

Megrahi was jailed for a minimum of 27 years in 2001 after being found guilty of causing the explosion on Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in Scotland which killed 270 people.

He has always protested his innocence. His first appeal failed in 2002 and he launched a second in April.

Now, British media say, he is due to be set free because he has prostate cancer, which his wife, Aisha, says means that, "he is in danger".

"It seems as if they are preparing to release him in time for Ramadan, which is next Friday," Robbie the Pict, a Lockerbie activist, told RFI.

Megrahi's bid for release has been supported by some families of victims, who have also questioned his guilt, but others oppose the move.

"The Americans and the British are fairly divided on that," the Pict said. Adding that Americans have been persuaded, "that this is a terrorist intentional explosion and act of murder," while British families are, "a bit more sceptical".

Meanwhile, activists who want further investigation into the incident are doubtful about how Megrahi's release could be used to affect the opportunity for an appeal.

"It’s a little cynical to spin the thing out for so long, and use his own death as a device, whereby he would have to drop proceedings to be released on the prisoner transfer arrangement," said the Pict. 

"The release can be on compassionate grounds, which is a whole different ballgame and leaves the appeal in place and it should be seen through and continued," he added.