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Lockerbie bomber arrives in Libya Lockerbie bomber arrives in Libya
(10 minutes later)
The Libyan man jailed in Scotland for blowing up a US airliner over Lockerbie in 1988, has arrived home in Libya after being set free.The Libyan man jailed in Scotland for blowing up a US airliner over Lockerbie in 1988, has arrived home in Libya after being set free.
The Scottish government released Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who is 57 and has terminal cancer, on compassionate grounds.The Scottish government released Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who is 57 and has terminal cancer, on compassionate grounds.
US President Barack Obama said the move was "a mistake", and some relatives of US victims reacted angrily.US President Barack Obama said the move was "a mistake", and some relatives of US victims reacted angrily.
Most of the 270 people who died in the bombing were Americans.Most of the 270 people who died in the bombing were Americans.
In a radio interview, Mr Obama said: "We have been in contact with the Scottish government, indicating that we objected to this. We thought it was a mistake."In a radio interview, Mr Obama said: "We have been in contact with the Scottish government, indicating that we objected to this. We thought it was a mistake."
He added that his administration had told the Libyan government that Megrahi should not receive a hero's welcome and should be placed under house arrest.He added that his administration had told the Libyan government that Megrahi should not receive a hero's welcome and should be placed under house arrest.
Compassion
A police convoy left Scotland's Greenock Prison, where Megrahi was serving his sentence, more than an hour after the announcement of his release was made.A police convoy left Scotland's Greenock Prison, where Megrahi was serving his sentence, more than an hour after the announcement of his release was made.
'A convenient scapegoat?' Bomber release: What now? Grounds for compassionate release 'No prospect of recovery'
He was taken to Glasgow Airport to board the Afriqiyah Airways plane bound for Tripoli, where he landed at 1830 GMT.He was taken to Glasgow Airport to board the Afriqiyah Airways plane bound for Tripoli, where he landed at 1830 GMT.
The Scottish government said it had consulted widely before Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill made his decision on applications for Megrahi's compassionate release or his transfer to a Libyan jail.The Scottish government said it had consulted widely before Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill made his decision on applications for Megrahi's compassionate release or his transfer to a Libyan jail.
He told a news conference on Thursday that he had rejected the application for a prisoner transfer.He told a news conference on Thursday that he had rejected the application for a prisoner transfer.
However, after taking medical advice it was expected that three months was a "reasonable estimate" of the time Megrahi had left to live.However, after taking medical advice it was expected that three months was a "reasonable estimate" of the time Megrahi had left to live.
"Mr al-Megrahi did not show his victims any comfort or compassion. They were not allowed to return to the bosom of their families to see out their lives, let alone their dying days. No compassion was shown by him to them," he said.
"But that alone is not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days."
Mr MacAskill continued: "Our justice system demands that judgement be imposed, but compassion be available.
"For these reasons and these reasons alone, it is my decision that Mr Mr Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi, convicted in 2001 for the Lockerbie bombing, now terminally ill with prostate cancer, be released on compassionate grounds and be allowed to return to Libya to die."