Washington: US President Barack Obama on Thursday regretted the decision of Scotland to release a Libyan terrorist involved in the bombing of Pan-Am Flight 103 that killed 270 people, including 189 Americans.
The Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, also
expressed her deep disappointment on the decision.
"The United States deeply regrets the decision by the
Scottish Executive to release Abdel Basset Mohamed
al-Megrahi," Obama said. Megrahi was convicted and sentenced
to life in prison for his role in the bombing of Pan Am Flight
103, which blew up over Scotland on December 21, 1988.
"As we have expressed repeatedly to officials of the
government of the United Kingdom and to Scottish authorities,
we continue to believe that Megrahi should serve out his
sentence in Scotland," Obama said.
"On this day, we extend our deepest sympathies to the
families who live every day with the loss of their loved ones.
We recognise the effects of such a loss weigh upon a family
forever," he said.
In a separate statement, Clinton said the US is deeply
disappointed by the decision of the Scottish Executive to
release Megrahi who was convicted and sentenced to life in
prison for his part in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which
took the lives of 270 persons, including 189 Americans.
Scotland today freed the terminally-ill Libyan jailed
for the bombing on compassionate grounds despite fierce US
opposition, Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill
announced.
Bureau Report
