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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bomber release 'damages Scotland' | Bomber release 'damages Scotland' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The release of the Lockerbie bomber has damaged the reputation of Scotland across the globe, former Labour first minister Jack McConnell has warned. | The release of the Lockerbie bomber has damaged the reputation of Scotland across the globe, former Labour first minister Jack McConnell has warned. |
| He condemned the move and said it must be made clear it was not done in the name of the Scottish people. | He condemned the move and said it must be made clear it was not done in the name of the Scottish people. |
| Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed from Greenock prison on Thursday to be allowed home to Libya to die. | Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was freed from Greenock prison on Thursday to be allowed home to Libya to die. |
| A Scottish government spokesman said the decision had been reached "on the basis of due process" and "evidence". | A Scottish government spokesman said the decision had been reached "on the basis of due process" and "evidence". |
| The bomber's release - and the hero's welcome he was given on return to Libya - provoked anger from many relatives of those who died aboard Pan-Am flight 103, particularly in the US. | The bomber's release - and the hero's welcome he was given on return to Libya - provoked anger from many relatives of those who died aboard Pan-Am flight 103, particularly in the US. |
| It's absolutely vital that the Scottish Parliament now takes action to limit that damage Jack McConnellFormer first minister Gaddafi thanks Brown for release Anger at bomber's welcome Bomber release: What now? | It's absolutely vital that the Scottish Parliament now takes action to limit that damage Jack McConnellFormer first minister Gaddafi thanks Brown for release Anger at bomber's welcome Bomber release: What now? |
| A total of 270 people died when the transatlantic airliner came down over Lockerbie in 1988. | A total of 270 people died when the transatlantic airliner came down over Lockerbie in 1988. |
| Speaking to BBC Scotland, Mr McConnell said the sight of the Scottish flag being waved as Megrahi arrived back in Libya had brought shame on Scotland. | Speaking to BBC Scotland, Mr McConnell said the sight of the Scottish flag being waved as Megrahi arrived back in Libya had brought shame on Scotland. |
| He said: "The way in which the decision has been made and the decision itself have damaged the reputation of the Scottish justice system - historically our legal system has had a fantastic international reputation. | He said: "The way in which the decision has been made and the decision itself have damaged the reputation of the Scottish justice system - historically our legal system has had a fantastic international reputation. |
| "It's damaged that reputation, but much more significantly it's also damaged the reputation of Scotland internationally. | "It's damaged that reputation, but much more significantly it's also damaged the reputation of Scotland internationally. |
| "I think it's absolutely vital that the Scottish Parliament now takes action to limit that damage and to give a clear indication to the rest of the world that when the Scottish Government made this decision they were not acting with the support of the people of Scotland." | "I think it's absolutely vital that the Scottish Parliament now takes action to limit that damage and to give a clear indication to the rest of the world that when the Scottish Government made this decision they were not acting with the support of the people of Scotland." |
| He said the decision was a "grave error of judgement" and claimed there had been other options for additional compassionate relief without Megrahi being freed. | He said the decision was a "grave error of judgement" and claimed there had been other options for additional compassionate relief without Megrahi being freed. |
| The issue has nothing to do with party politics, and any attempt to politicise it is extremely foolish Spokesman for Kenny MacAskill | The issue has nothing to do with party politics, and any attempt to politicise it is extremely foolish Spokesman for Kenny MacAskill |
| However, a spokesman for Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, who took the decision to free Megrahi, suggested Mr McConnell was trying to score political points. | However, a spokesman for Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, who took the decision to free Megrahi, suggested Mr McConnell was trying to score political points. |
| "Former First Minister Henry McLeish - who was in office at the time of the Lockerbie conviction - has said that the justice secretary's decision was 'the right decision for the right reasons'," the spokesman said. | "Former First Minister Henry McLeish - who was in office at the time of the Lockerbie conviction - has said that the justice secretary's decision was 'the right decision for the right reasons'," the spokesman said. |
| "The justice secretary reached his conclusions on the basis of due process, clear evidence, and recommendations from the Parole Board and Prison Governor. | "The justice secretary reached his conclusions on the basis of due process, clear evidence, and recommendations from the Parole Board and Prison Governor. |
| "Now that Mr MacAskill has made his statement, Parliament has requested a recall, and Mr MacAskill is pleased to answer any and all questions which MSPs have. That is the proper parliamentary process. | "Now that Mr MacAskill has made his statement, Parliament has requested a recall, and Mr MacAskill is pleased to answer any and all questions which MSPs have. That is the proper parliamentary process. |
| "The issue has nothing to do with party politics, and any attempt to politicise it is extremely foolish and will backfire spectacularly - particularly on the Labour Party." | "The issue has nothing to do with party politics, and any attempt to politicise it is extremely foolish and will backfire spectacularly - particularly on the Labour Party." |
| Mr McConnell's attack comes the day after the director of the FBI accused Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill of having made a "mockery of justice". | Mr McConnell's attack comes the day after the director of the FBI accused Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill of having made a "mockery of justice". |
| 'True to values' | 'True to values' |
| Announcing the release on Thursday, Mr MacAskill said the Scottish justice system was based on both judgement and compassion. | Announcing the release on Thursday, Mr MacAskill said the Scottish justice system was based on both judgement and compassion. |
| "Compassion and mercy are about upholding the beliefs we seek to live by, remaining true to our values as a people - no matter the severity of the provocation or the atrocity perpetrated," he said. | "Compassion and mercy are about upholding the beliefs we seek to live by, remaining true to our values as a people - no matter the severity of the provocation or the atrocity perpetrated," he said. |
| The Scottish Parliament has been recalled and will meet on Monday to discuss the release. | The Scottish Parliament has been recalled and will meet on Monday to discuss the release. |
| International pressure over the handling of the release and the welcome Megrahi was given in Tripoli have continued to mount. | International pressure over the handling of the release and the welcome Megrahi was given in Tripoli have continued to mount. |
| Cheering crowds, some waving Saltires, greeted his arrival, despite pleas for sensitivity from the US and UK governments. | Cheering crowds, some waving Saltires, greeted his arrival, despite pleas for sensitivity from the US and UK governments. |
| Colonel Gaddafi has said that Prime Minister Gordon Brown had "encouraged" the Scottish government to take what he called a "courageous" decision, but the Foreign Office has strongly denied claims it was linked to a trade deal between the UK and Libya. | Colonel Gaddafi has said that Prime Minister Gordon Brown had "encouraged" the Scottish government to take what he called a "courageous" decision, but the Foreign Office has strongly denied claims it was linked to a trade deal between the UK and Libya. |
| The claim was made by Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi, who told Libyan TV Megrahi's case was "always on the negotiating table" during talks with the UK on commercial contracts. | |
| Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said such a suggestion was "not only wrong" but "actually quite offensive". | Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said such a suggestion was "not only wrong" but "actually quite offensive". |