Lockerbie bomber released

Convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi is being released from a Scottish prison this afternoon, just eight years into a life sentence after he was convicted of the murder of all 259 people on board a Pan Am Boeing 747 over the Scottish village of Lockerbie. He was also convicted of causing the death of 11 people on the ground.

The bombing took place just before Christmas in 1988.

Al-Megrahi was being released on compassionate grounds, Scotland's justice minister Kenny MacAskill told a press conference. The former security agent is suffering terminal prostate cancer.

The decision was taken despite strong protests from the United States and relatives of the victims.

Mr MacAskill said he had rejected a request for the release of Mr al-Megrahi on the basis of a prisoner transfer agreement but had accepted release on compassionate grounds after comprehensive medical reports showed a significant deterioration in his health. He may not survive for more than three months, according to medical advice, Mr MacAskill said.

Mr Al Megrahi had shown no compassion to his victims, the Scottish minister said, but that was no reason to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days. Scotland had to be true to its values.

Al-Megrahi had worked in Malta with Libyan Arab Airlines. During his trial it was alleged that the bomb started its journey on a flight from Malta to Frankfurt, where it was transferred to Heathrow and on to the Pan Am flight. Malta has always insisted that the Malta link was never proved.