Lockerbie bomber 'comatose and near death'
The Lockerbie bomber has been tracked down to his villa in the Libyan capital, where he is apparently comatose and near death, it has emerged.
Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was found bedridden, surrounded by his family in their grand home in an up-market part of Tripoli. His relatives allowed a reporting team from American news channel CNN to enter the house, which they said had been ransacked by looters who plundered all his medicine.
Oxygen and a fluids drip are all that are keeping him alive, according to his family.
His son Khaled al-Megrahi said he had no idea how much longer his father had to live, but insisted he should be able to spend his last few days in peace at home. "There is no doctor, there is nobody to ask and we don't have a phoneline to call anybody," he told the broadcaster.
His family said he had not been eating and they did not know how to treat him.
CNN reporter Nic Robertson said Megrahi looked far worse than he had done when he last saw him two years ago and described his appearance as "much iller, much sicker, his face is sunken...just a shell of the man he was". He added: "I was shocked when I walked into the room and saw him in such a state."
Megrahi was convicted and imprisoned in Scotland for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103, which killed 270 people. He was granted compassionate release in 2009 on the basis that he was expected to die from prostate cancer within months. But he survived and was residing in Tripoli until the Gaddafi regime fell.
Britain and the new Libyan government were at loggerheads over whether the bomber - and also Yvonne Fletcher's suspected killer - could be removed from the conflict-torn country. Pressure has been growing for Megrahi to be brought back to jail in the UK in the wake of the collapse of Muammar Gaddafi's regime.
The Scottish Government and East Renfrewshire Council issued a joint statement to say there had been contact through Megrahi's family over the weekend.
It said: "Speculation about Al Megrahi in recent days has been unhelpful, unnecessary and indeed ill-informed. As has always been said, Al Megrahi is dying of a terminal disease, and matters regarding his medical condition should really be left there."
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Ms maria bonnici
Aug 30th 2011, 14:39
why won t a dying person be left to die a decent death? guilty or not? the lord up there has the truth! so its better to leave it in his hands!!! after all who are we to judge!
Liam Kelly
Aug 29th 2011, 23:39
Some shocking comments on here.
I just ask those who say such nasty things against this man to spend 5 minutes researching the case on the (western bias) Internet; and you will be ashamed of your comments against this innocent man.
In recent reports on the case the news channels tried to get people to comment on his health but couldn't avoid said expert pointing out the blatent fact that the whole case was a farce and the man is innocent. That tells you all you need to know really.
Bill Khan
Aug 30th 2011, 13:59
It shows you how quickly people are taken in by the media which constantly repeats the lie. As was said by some one 'if you repeat a lie long enough people begin to accept it the truth.' And what's more the media so easily gets people into hysteria. It is quite amazing how gullible people can be.
They shout 'crucify!' as many did at the time of Jesus's trial whipped up by the media of that time.
Pule' Carmel
Aug 29th 2011, 19:15
One can interpret and justify the real truth, but the essence of the real truth can never be got at ! You may call that philosophy but it is a true statement.
Chris Garden
Aug 29th 2011, 19:14
I hope he can live his last moments in peace.
This man was not given a fair trial, and was convicted on falsified evidence.
It's understandable people want someone to blame for all the innocent lives lost. This man was not however, the perpetrator.
Al Megrahi was not allowed a fair shot at the appeals procedure, for whatever reason, and was finally released for 'compassionate' reasons, really as a means of avoiding his winning the appeal.
A certain Maltese man was paid $2 million for his testimony, quite generous, wouldn't you say?
Mr Charles.C. Brown
Aug 30th 2011, 00:26
@ chris garden. We have seen it all here in britain on "panorama" that certain man was a certain Tony Gauci he was not just a Judah but he also allowed the CIA to built a story and tarnish the good name of Malta by say that the bomb was planted in Malta when facts show that the bomb started its journey from frankfurt.
Mr Joe Spiteri
Aug 29th 2011, 18:29
.....he should be able to spend his last few days in peace at home. Unlike his victims!! He deserves to burn in hell!
joseph gaffarena
Aug 29th 2011, 18:18
No mercy for a man who killed 270 innocent people.
Mr Karl Consiglio
Aug 29th 2011, 20:05
God is mercy
caroline zarre
Aug 29th 2011, 17:32
he killed 270 people for nothing , now it is his turn
Mr Karl Consiglio
Aug 29th 2011, 20:08
And one day it will be yours too
Mr Joseph Calleja
Aug 29th 2011, 14:46
"Lockerbie bomber 'comatose and near death'". That was the same statement that the Scottish Government gave upon his release from jail two years ago. This man was involved in the blowing up of Pan AM flight 103 where 270 innocent people died over Lockerbie, Scotland.
Tony Dalli
Aug 29th 2011, 13:43
A martyr in the making!!!! If they were two how come one was released and the other convicted?
Where is Majid the Libyan agent who was given safe heaven in the USA?
Mr Michael Adamek
Aug 29th 2011, 11:40
If this bloke really did it(the truth seems to have got lost among the spin and innuendo) then I say good riddance.
Mr Karl Consiglio
Aug 29th 2011, 11:27
He is in our prayers
Mr M Mamo
Aug 29th 2011, 14:26
he killed 270 people and you pray for him? he deserves the same thing as Gaddafi! (death!)
Mr Joseph Calleja
Aug 29th 2011, 14:28
Only in yours Mr Consiglio, Only in yours.
Mr Karl Consiglio
Aug 29th 2011, 20:04
I follow the instructions of Christ
Mr Biker Man
Aug 29th 2011, 21:05
Only in yours, Mr Consiglio. I follow my own common sense and sense of justice. I ask you one, would he be in your prayers had he killed your son and wife? Please give a direct answer - yes or no. Thanks.
hugh jars
Aug 30th 2011, 10:33
BAN POXY WAR CAUSING RELIGION!!!!
Maria Eugenia Bensaid
Oct 4th 2011, 22:48
Pray Mr. Consiglio, maybe before he die, he will say the truth, other wise he will go to Hell...