This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8213352.stm
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Anger at Lockerbie bomber welcome | Anger at Lockerbie bomber welcome |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Relatives of those who died in the bombing of a US plane over Lockerbie voiced anger as the man convicted of the attack was welcomed home in Libya. | Relatives of those who died in the bombing of a US plane over Lockerbie voiced anger as the man convicted of the attack was welcomed home in Libya. |
| Crowds in Tripoli greeted Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, after he was freed from prison on compassionate grounds. | Crowds in Tripoli greeted Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, after he was freed from prison on compassionate grounds. |
| The son of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi called his release a courageous step by Scotland and Britain. | The son of Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi called his release a courageous step by Scotland and Britain. |
| But there was angry reaction from families of those killed in the bombing and from US President Barack Obama. | But there was angry reaction from families of those killed in the bombing and from US President Barack Obama. |
| Most of the 270 people who died when Pan Am Flight 103 blew up over Lockerbie in 1988 were Americans. | Most of the 270 people who died when Pan Am Flight 103 blew up over Lockerbie in 1988 were Americans. |
| Mr Obama said Megrahi's release, eight years into his life sentence, was "a mistake". | Mr Obama said Megrahi's release, eight years into his life sentence, was "a mistake". |
| US powerless as bomber freed In pictures: Bomber's release 'A convenient scapegoat?' Bomber release: What now? | US powerless as bomber freed In pictures: Bomber's release 'A convenient scapegoat?' Bomber release: What now? |
| He said his administration had told the Libyan government that Megrahi, who has terminal cancer, should not receive a hero's welcome and should be placed under house arrest. | He said his administration had told the Libyan government that Megrahi, who has terminal cancer, should not receive a hero's welcome and should be placed under house arrest. |
| British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the sight of Megrahi being welcomed in the Libyan capital was very disturbing for families of those who died in the bombing. | |
| "Obviously the sight of a mass murderer getting a hero's welcome in Tripoli is deeply upsetting, deeply distressing," he told the BBC. | |
| Hundreds of people turned out to meet Megrahi's plane as it landed in Tripoli, many waving flags. | |
| Megrahi, who had changed from the tracksuit he wore to leave Greenock prison in Scotland into a dark suit, was met by Col Gaddafi's son. | Megrahi, who had changed from the tracksuit he wore to leave Greenock prison in Scotland into a dark suit, was met by Col Gaddafi's son. |
| "I would like to thank the Scottish government for its courageous decision and understanding of a special human situation," Seif al-Islam Gaddafi was quoted as saying. | "I would like to thank the Scottish government for its courageous decision and understanding of a special human situation," Seif al-Islam Gaddafi was quoted as saying. |
| There was a considerable amount of new evidence to show that he was innocent, he is reported to have added. | There was a considerable amount of new evidence to show that he was innocent, he is reported to have added. |
| Megrahi was then taken to his family home where his wife, Aisha, said she was "overjoyed". | Megrahi was then taken to his family home where his wife, Aisha, said she was "overjoyed". |
| "It is a great moment, which we have been waiting for for nine years," she said. "The house is full to bursting, everyone who loves Abdelbaset is with us." | "It is a great moment, which we have been waiting for for nine years," she said. "The house is full to bursting, everyone who loves Abdelbaset is with us." |
| 'An insult' | 'An insult' |
| But relatives of those who died voiced growing anger and outrage at the decision to release him. | But relatives of those who died voiced growing anger and outrage at the decision to release him. |
| Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi has always denied the charges against him | Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi has always denied the charges against him |
| Stephanie Bernstein, whose husband was killed in the bombing, said the Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill was "naive" in taking the decision to release Megrahi. | Stephanie Bernstein, whose husband was killed in the bombing, said the Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill was "naive" in taking the decision to release Megrahi. |
| "Thinking that somehow this shows that they are better people for being compassionate? This shows not compassion, it shows weakness," she told the BBC. | "Thinking that somehow this shows that they are better people for being compassionate? This shows not compassion, it shows weakness," she told the BBC. |
| But other relatives reacted differently to the news. | But other relatives reacted differently to the news. |
| British relatives' spokesman Dr Jim Swire, who lost his daughter Flora in the atrocity, reiterated his view that Megrahi had "nothing to do with" the bombing. | British relatives' spokesman Dr Jim Swire, who lost his daughter Flora in the atrocity, reiterated his view that Megrahi had "nothing to do with" the bombing. |
| Have Your Say I am ashamed to be Scottish today. Where is the justice for the victims? Ross MacDonald, Edinburgh Send us your comment | Have Your Say I am ashamed to be Scottish today. Where is the justice for the victims? Ross MacDonald, Edinburgh Send us your comment |
| "I don't believe for a moment that this man was involved in the way that he was found to have been involved," he said. | "I don't believe for a moment that this man was involved in the way that he was found to have been involved," he said. |
| Megrahi was convicted of murder in January 2001 at a trial held under Scottish law in the Netherlands but has always denied being behind the bombing. | Megrahi was convicted of murder in January 2001 at a trial held under Scottish law in the Netherlands but has always denied being behind the bombing. |
| Mr MacAskill announced the release order on Thursday morning, saying Megrahi probably had about three months to live. | Mr MacAskill announced the release order on Thursday morning, saying Megrahi probably had about three months to live. |
| The fact that Megrahi's victims were shown no compassion was "not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days", he said. | The fact that Megrahi's victims were shown no compassion was "not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days", he said. |
| In London, a spokesman for the Foreign Office said any decision to release Megrahi "was for the Scottish government and ministers to take, as they have done". | In London, a spokesman for the Foreign Office said any decision to release Megrahi "was for the Scottish government and ministers to take, as they have done". |
| The BBC's Christian Fraser in Tripoli says that in the short time Megrahi is believed to have left to live, he is likely to be feted as a national hero in Libya. | The BBC's Christian Fraser in Tripoli says that in the short time Megrahi is believed to have left to live, he is likely to be feted as a national hero in Libya. |
| But when he does die, says our correspondent, he will go to the grave a convicted murderer. | But when he does die, says our correspondent, he will go to the grave a convicted murderer. |