/ 13 August 2009

Lockerbie bomber could be freed from prison next week

Preparations are under way to free the Libyan man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing from prison next week, after doctors said his terminal prostate cancer was in its final stages.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, sentenced to a minimum life term of 25 years in 2001 for killing 270 people in the bombing, is expected to be released on compassionate grounds in time to return home for the start of the festival of Ramadan next week. It was reported on Wednesday night that the Scottish justice secretary, Kenny Macaskill, told the Libyan government to make preparations for Megrahi’s imminent release and arrange his flight home.

The Scottish parole board has also been asked for its views on granting compassionate early release to the former Libyan agent, who is currently at Greenock prison near Glasgow.

Scottish government officials insisted on Wednesday night that no decision had been made to release Megrahi, either to send him home on compassionate grounds or to grant a separate Libyan request for him to continue his sentence in Libya.

Megrahi’s release is being resisted by US relatives of some of the 270 people killed in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 on 21 December 1988.

However, many British families believe he is innocent. The Libyan is part-way through an appeal against his conviction. If he is released on compassionate grounds, that appeal could continue after his death.

However, one British relative, Pamela Dix, said on Wednesday night it was still far from clear whether Megrahi was innocent or guilty since the trial had left so many unanswered questions.

”Almost 21 years after the Lockerbie bombing, I would expect to know who did it, why they did it and how they did it. Instead, we’re left in situation of really knowing very little about what happened.” – guardian.co.uk