'Send Megrahi back to Scotland'

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 21:46

A UNITED States senator has written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, demanding that the Lockerbie bomber should be returned to prison in Scotland.

New York Democrat Charles Schumer said Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi's early release from Greenock jail on compassionate grounds had been granted on the assumption that he had three months to live.

But three months had now elapsed and there was "speculation" that the severity of Megrahi's condition had been exaggerated, the senator said. He went on: "Megrahi should have never been released in the first place, but it would be even more outrageous if he were to be able to live a long and free life after his release."

Mr Schumer added: "The victims of Pan Am Flight 103 didn't get a second chance at life and neither should Megrahi. Justice in this case was life in prison, no exceptions."

Megrahi, who has terminal prostate cancer, was freed on 20 August and flown home to Tripoli. He was serving a life sentence for the 1988 Pan Am jumbo jet bombing, which claimed 270 lives, and his early release was greeted with anger by American relatives of those killed.

Yesterday, a Scottish Government spokesman said justice secretary Kenny MacAskill's decision had been based on recommendations by the parole board and prison governor, and was supported by a medical report.

He added: "Mr al-Megrahi has terminal prostate cancer and was sent back to Libya to die.

"As Mr MacAskill said when he announced his decision, he may die sooner or may live longer, given the nature of his terminal disease."