Edinburgh: Libya had assured Scotland
that it would give a "low key" reception home to the Lockerbie
bomber before his release, the minister who decided to free
him said on Monday.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill lamented that Libya
had welcomed Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi home in an
"inappropriate" manner following his decision to release him
last week.
"Assurances had been given by the Libyan government
that any return would be dealt with in a low-key and sensitive
fashion," he said, defending his decision in an emergency
debate in the Scottish Parliament.
"It is a matter of great regret that Mr al-Megrahi was
received in such an inappropriate manner," he added, before
being grilled by lawmakers over the release which has
triggered fury in the United States.
He also reiterated that he took the decision entirely
on compassionate grounds under Scotland`s laws.
"It was not based on political, diplomatic or economic
considerations," he said, adding, "It was my decision and my
decision alone. I stand by it."
"In Scotland we are a people who pride ourselves on
our humanity... The perpetration of an outrage... cannot and
should not be the basis for losing sight of who we are," he
added.
Bureau Report
