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Clinton repeats Lockerbie stance | Clinton repeats Lockerbie stance |
(about 4 hours later) | |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has reiterated her opposition to the possible release of the Lockerbie bomber from prison in Scotland. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has reiterated her opposition to the possible release of the Lockerbie bomber from prison in Scotland. |
She said it would be "absolutely wrong" for the Scottish Government to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi or transfer him to jail in his homeland of Libya. | She said it would be "absolutely wrong" for the Scottish Government to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi or transfer him to jail in his homeland of Libya. |
Megrahi, dying from terminal prostate cancer aged 57, dropped his second appeal against conviction on Tuesday. | Megrahi, dying from terminal prostate cancer aged 57, dropped his second appeal against conviction on Tuesday. |
Some 189 Americans were among the 270 people killed in the airliner bombing. | Some 189 Americans were among the 270 people killed in the airliner bombing. |
"I knew a lot of these families. I talked with them about what a horror they experienced," Mrs Clinton said. | "I knew a lot of these families. I talked with them about what a horror they experienced," Mrs Clinton said. |
"I just think it is absolutely wrong to release someone who has been imprisoned based on the evidence about his involvement in such a horrendous crime." | "I just think it is absolutely wrong to release someone who has been imprisoned based on the evidence about his involvement in such a horrendous crime." |
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service | |
The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Washington called it "uncharacteristically undiplomatic language" from Mrs Clinton. | The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Washington called it "uncharacteristically undiplomatic language" from Mrs Clinton. |
"The intense pressure on the Scottish justice secretary went up a further notch with this intervention from Hillary Clinton," he said. | "The intense pressure on the Scottish justice secretary went up a further notch with this intervention from Hillary Clinton," he said. |
Last week, Mrs Clinton personally expressed to Kenny MacAskill her view that the bomber should serve out his sentence in Scotland. | Last week, Mrs Clinton personally expressed to Kenny MacAskill her view that the bomber should serve out his sentence in Scotland. |
Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney said the justice secretary had gone to "significant lengths" to listen to everybody's opinion on the case. | |
He told BBC Radio Scotland: "He's obviously met with Mr Megrahi and he's listened to a whole range of different representations. | |
"That's the right and the proper thing to do. | |
"Kenny MacAskill is now considering the details of all of those representations and the reports which he is required to take." | |
Mr MacAskill is due to decide within the next two weeks on an application for Megrahi's release on compassionate grounds, as well as a Libyan government request for a transfer to allow him to serve out his sentence in his homeland. | Mr MacAskill is due to decide within the next two weeks on an application for Megrahi's release on compassionate grounds, as well as a Libyan government request for a transfer to allow him to serve out his sentence in his homeland. |
Earlier this week, a letter from seven US senators including Edward Kennedy and John Kerry urged Mr MacAskill to keep Megrahi behind bars. | Earlier this week, a letter from seven US senators including Edward Kennedy and John Kerry urged Mr MacAskill to keep Megrahi behind bars. |
Condition 'grave' | Condition 'grave' |
On Tuesday, judges at the High Court in Edinburgh who accepted Megrahi's application to drop his appeal were told Megrahi's health had recently worsened very considerably. | |
By dropping his appeal, Megrahi has removed one potential obstacle to his transfer to a jail in his homeland. | By dropping his appeal, Megrahi has removed one potential obstacle to his transfer to a jail in his homeland. |
However, a Crown appeal against the length of his sentence is still ongoing. | However, a Crown appeal against the length of his sentence is still ongoing. |
Scotland's top prosecutor, Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini, will now have to consider whether that should also be dropped. | |
Megrahi is serving a life sentence of at least 27 years following his 2001 conviction for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988. | Megrahi is serving a life sentence of at least 27 years following his 2001 conviction for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988. |