UK - Libya - Lockerbie

Lockerbie bomber heads home after compassionate release

Article published on the 2009-08-20 Latest update 2009-08-20 16:58 TU

Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi escorted by Libyan police officers in 1992
(Photo: AFP)

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi, the Libyan man convicted for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing,has been released from prison in Scotland on compassionate grounds.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said he stood by Megrahi's conviction and he rejected the application for a prison transfer.

He said the decision was based purely on compassionate grounds and that Megrahi would be returning to Libya.

"He is going home to die," said MacAskill who did not rule out the possibility of a future public inquiry into the bombing.

Megrahi, who is suffering from advanced, terminal prostate cancer, is the only person convicted of blowing up Pan Am flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, which killed 270 people in the plane and on the ground.

He has served eight years of a 27-year sentence.

The decision overrides US opposition to the release of Megrahi with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging the Scottish authorities not to let him leave prison.

Following news of Megrahi's release, the White House issued a statement saying that the United States "deeply regrets" the decision by the Scots government.

A major obstacle to Megrahi returning to Libya was removed on Tuesday when Edinburgh's High Court ruled that he could drop his appeal against conviction. He has always maintained his innocence.

Megrahi is set to leave the UK for Libya later on Thursday afternoon.

In Tripoli, an official in the Libyan prime minister's office said: "He is free and will arrive in Libya in the next few hours."

Earlier officials at a military airport near Tripoli said preparations were under way for his return.