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PM 'repulsed' at bomber welcome PM 'repulsed' at bomber welcome
(20 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has said he was "repulsed" by the welcome given to the Lockerbie bomber on his return to Libya.Gordon Brown has said he was "repulsed" by the welcome given to the Lockerbie bomber on his return to Libya.
In his first comments since the decision to free Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, Mr Brown said he was angry about the jubilant scenes in Tripoli. In his first comments since the freeing of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, Mr Brown said he was "angry" about the jubilant scenes as he left the plane in Tripoli.
He said the decision was a matter for the Scottish government and he had "no role" in it but he would not comment on whether he backed the move. Mr Brown said he had had "no role" in the Scottish government's decision to liberate Megrahi, and declined to say whether or not he supported the move.
Opposition leaders have accused the PM of a "deafening silence" on the issue.Opposition leaders have accused the PM of a "deafening silence" on the issue.
Anger Megrahi, found guilty of killing 270 people in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, received a rapturous welcome in Tripoli last week and later met Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
Mr Brown was asked about the decision to free Megrahi, who is suffering from terminal cancer, on compassionate grounds at a press conference in Downing Street. 'Absolutely clear'
He said he was "angry and repulsed" at the jubilant reception Megrahi - convicted for his role in the bombing of a Pan Am jet above Lockerbie in 1988 - received when he arrived back in Libya. Mr Brown said: "I was both angry and I was repulsed by the reception that a convicted bomber guilty of of a huge terrorist crime received on his return to Libya."
Megrahi received a rapturous welcome and later met Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. He added that he had made it "absolutely clear" to the Libyan leader when they met in July at the G8 summit in Italy that the decision was a matter for the Scottish government alone.
Mr Brown said he had made it "absolutely clear" to the Libyan leader when they met in July at the G8 summit in Italy that the decision was a matter for the Scottish government alone. I was both angry and I was repulsed by the reception that a convicted bomber guilty of a huge terrorist crime received on his return to Libya Gordon Brown class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8219717.stm">Bomber document release promised
He said the UK could not interfere in the judicial process and could have "no control over the final outcome". He said the UK could not interfere in what was a "quasi-judicial process" and could have "no control over the final outcome".
He stressed that his "first thoughts" were with the families of victims of the Lockerbie atrocity but said he was still committed to working with countries such as Libya to fight terrorism. Mr Brown stressed that his "first thoughts" were with the families of victims of the Lockerbie atrocity but said he was still committed to working with countries such as Libya to fight terrorism.
"I want to make it absolutely clear, however, that whatever decision was made on compassionate grounds by the Scottish Parliament, our resolve to fight terrorism is absolute."
The Scottish National Party administration's decision to approve Megrahi's release has been condemned by the relatives of some Lockerbie victims and by politicians in Edinburgh, Westminster and Washington DC.The Scottish National Party administration's decision to approve Megrahi's release has been condemned by the relatives of some Lockerbie victims and by politicians in Edinburgh, Westminster and Washington DC.
Public concernPublic concern
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have urged Mr Brown to comment on the case, which they argue could do serious damage to relations between the UK and US.The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have urged Mr Brown to comment on the case, which they argue could do serious damage to relations between the UK and US.
Tory leader David Cameron has said the decision was wrong and the public were entitled to know Mr Brown's views on a matter of "great public concern". Tory leader David Cameron said the decision was wrong and the public were entitled to know Mr Brown's views on a matter of "great public concern".
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has said it is "absurd and damaging" that Mr Brown has yet to comment on the decision. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said it was "absurd and damaging" that Mr Brown had not made his views known on the decision.
British officials have revealed they wrote to the Libyan government urging him to be given a low-key reception. British officials previously revealed they had written to the Libyan government urging that Megrahi be given a low-key reception.
Ministers have denied the decision to free Megrahi, who served seven years of his life sentence for the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie, was linked to trade deals with Tripoli.Ministers have denied the decision to free Megrahi, who served seven years of his life sentence for the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie, was linked to trade deals with Tripoli.