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Lockerbie bomber 'should be left to die in peace' | Lockerbie bomber 'should be left to die in peace' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Many people believe Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi should now be left to die in peace, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has said. | Many people believe Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi should now be left to die in peace, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has said. |
Mr Salmond said it was time to lay to rest the "ridiculous" conspiracy theory he was not dying of prostate cancer. | Mr Salmond said it was time to lay to rest the "ridiculous" conspiracy theory he was not dying of prostate cancer. |
Megrahi's family has told a CNN TV crew at his home in Tripoli he is close to death and falling in and out of a coma. | Megrahi's family has told a CNN TV crew at his home in Tripoli he is close to death and falling in and out of a coma. |
Mr Salmond also said he had never considered seeking his extradition, and speculation otherwise was "misguided". | Mr Salmond also said he had never considered seeking his extradition, and speculation otherwise was "misguided". |
CNN said Megrahi appeared to be "at death's door" and was in the care of his family. | CNN said Megrahi appeared to be "at death's door" and was in the care of his family. |
Extradition calls | Extradition calls |
"The opinion of many, many people is that it might be time as far as Mr Megrahi is concerned to draw a line under that part of the Lockerbie issue and perhaps allow this man now to die in peace," Mr Salmond said. | "The opinion of many, many people is that it might be time as far as Mr Megrahi is concerned to draw a line under that part of the Lockerbie issue and perhaps allow this man now to die in peace," Mr Salmond said. |
He added: "We can finally lay to rest the ridiculous conspiracy theory... that somehow Mr Megrahi was not dying of prostate cancer. | He added: "We can finally lay to rest the ridiculous conspiracy theory... that somehow Mr Megrahi was not dying of prostate cancer. |
"You wouldn't have to be a medical expert to realise that this man is dying, is terminally ill, as we've always said." | "You wouldn't have to be a medical expert to realise that this man is dying, is terminally ill, as we've always said." |
Megrahi technically remains a Scottish prisoner after being released on licence from prison in 2009 on compassionate grounds. | Megrahi technically remains a Scottish prisoner after being released on licence from prison in 2009 on compassionate grounds. |
There have been calls for him to be returned to jail in the UK or tried in the US, but these were dismissed by Mr Salmond. | There have been calls for him to be returned to jail in the UK or tried in the US, but these were dismissed by Mr Salmond. |
"The Scottish government has never had any intention of asking for the extradition of Mr al-Megrahi because he's conformed to his licence conditions," he said. | "The Scottish government has never had any intention of asking for the extradition of Mr al-Megrahi because he's conformed to his licence conditions," he said. |
A spokesman for East Renfrewshire Council, with whom Megrahi must keep regular contact, said: "We can confirm that contact with the family was made over the weekend and we will be using that to continue our monitoring role of Mr Megrahi." | |
Libyan rebel leaders have said they do not intend to allow his extradition. | Libyan rebel leaders have said they do not intend to allow his extradition. |
Megrahi was jailed in 2001 for the bombing of a US plane over Lockerbie, with the loss of 270 lives. | Megrahi was jailed in 2001 for the bombing of a US plane over Lockerbie, with the loss of 270 lives. |
Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed in the 1988 attack, said he believed Megrahi was innocent and hoped he was getting decent pain relief at home with his family. | Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed in the 1988 attack, said he believed Megrahi was innocent and hoped he was getting decent pain relief at home with his family. |
"I feel extremely resentful that the murder of my lovely elder daughter Flora should be embedded in what I'm satisfied is in fact a tissue of lies which led to a politically useful outcome," he said. | "I feel extremely resentful that the murder of my lovely elder daughter Flora should be embedded in what I'm satisfied is in fact a tissue of lies which led to a politically useful outcome," he said. |
CNN reported on Sunday that Megrahi was "comatose" and "near death... surviving on oxygen and an intravenous drip" and not eating. | CNN reported on Sunday that Megrahi was "comatose" and "near death... surviving on oxygen and an intravenous drip" and not eating. |
"We just give him oxygen, nobody gives us any advice," Megrahi's son, Khaled, told the US broadcaster. | "We just give him oxygen, nobody gives us any advice," Megrahi's son, Khaled, told the US broadcaster. |
"There is no doctor. There is nobody to ask. We don't have any phone line to call anybody." | "There is no doctor. There is nobody to ask. We don't have any phone line to call anybody." |
'Shell of a man' | 'Shell of a man' |
CNN reporter Nic Robertson said he last saw Megrahi two years ago and described his appearance now as "much iller, much sicker, his face is sunken... just a shell of the man he was". | CNN reporter Nic Robertson said he last saw Megrahi two years ago and described his appearance now as "much iller, much sicker, his face is sunken... just a shell of the man he was". |
Megrahi is the only person to have been convicted in connection with the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Scotland. | Megrahi is the only person to have been convicted in connection with the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Scotland. |
The victims of the bombing were mainly US nationals and the decision to release him, taken by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, sparked an angry reaction in the United States. | The victims of the bombing were mainly US nationals and the decision to release him, taken by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, sparked an angry reaction in the United States. |
The former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton told BBC Radio 5 live that Megrahi should be in jail and called for him to extradited. | The former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton told BBC Radio 5 live that Megrahi should be in jail and called for him to extradited. |
"To me it will be a signal of how serious the rebel government is for good relations with the United States and the West if they hand over Megrahi for trial," he said. | "To me it will be a signal of how serious the rebel government is for good relations with the United States and the West if they hand over Megrahi for trial," he said. |
"He killed 270 people. He served roughly 10 years in jail before he was released by British authorities. Do the math - that means he served roughly two weeks in prison for every person he killed. Two weeks per murder. That is not nearly enough." | "He killed 270 people. He served roughly 10 years in jail before he was released by British authorities. Do the math - that means he served roughly two weeks in prison for every person he killed. Two weeks per murder. That is not nearly enough." |
Unknown details | Unknown details |
Stephanie Bernstein, whose husband Michael was one of those killed, told BBC Radio 5 live that Megrahi's death would cause regret to some victims' families. | Stephanie Bernstein, whose husband Michael was one of those killed, told BBC Radio 5 live that Megrahi's death would cause regret to some victims' families. |
"He was one person in a long line of people who I'm sure was responsible for the bombing and when he dies, some of the knowledge about what happened will go with him," she said. | "He was one person in a long line of people who I'm sure was responsible for the bombing and when he dies, some of the knowledge about what happened will go with him," she said. |
Bob Monetti, the father of another victim, said: "Mr Megrahi just probably put the bomb on the plane, but somebody else made it, and somebody else told him to do it, somebody else planned the whole thing out. | Bob Monetti, the father of another victim, said: "Mr Megrahi just probably put the bomb on the plane, but somebody else made it, and somebody else told him to do it, somebody else planned the whole thing out. |
"I'd like to find out who those people were, and find out a lot more of the details about what went on and why they did it." | "I'd like to find out who those people were, and find out a lot more of the details about what went on and why they did it." |
Mohammed al-Alagi, justice minister for the new leadership in Tripoli, said Megrahi had already faced justice when he was tried in Scotland. | |
"The NTC is busy trying to liberate Libya and it is not mandated to look into Megrahi's fate; that will be the responsibility of the next official Libyan government, once it is formed," he said. | |
The National Transitional Council is now recognised by Britain as the sole governmental authority for Libya. | The National Transitional Council is now recognised by Britain as the sole governmental authority for Libya. |
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