Lockerbie: SCOTLAND, Attenti al-Megrahi ISSUED by Patrick Nissirio
ondon time, rose, dressed in a white suit and with the aid of a stick, the plane of Afriqiyah Airways has reported from Glasgow in Libya. Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi, the Libyan agent sentenced to life for the Lockerbie massacre (270 dead by the explosion of a Pan Am plane on 21 December 1988) was released for humanitarian reasons by the Minister of Justice in Scotland. According to doctors Al-Megrahi, the only person convicted for the massacre, it has less than three months to live, corroded by an incurable cancer. “Go home to die,” said the minister several times. A release decided by national authorities in Scotland against the wishes of the vast majority of the families of the victims and the U.S. government, which until the last has pressed against the release and that Al-Megrahi to serve his sentence in Scotland, as was always insured. The former Libyan agent, 57 years old, was sentenced to life in 2001 during a trial in Holland, but with a Scottish court.
The White House has said it is “deeply regrets” the decision. The massacre in the skies of the small Scottish village 189 Americans perished. The Scottish Justice Minister Kenny Macaskill, in a long speech before communicating its decision, said to understand the reasons of those who are against and they have long consulted with stakeholders. He also recalled the opposition of Scotland at the recent agreement for the transfer of prisoners signed by the United Kingdom and Libya. But, he stressed, “was sentenced by a higher … he will die.” Shortly after the announcement, Al-Megrahi has left the prison in Greenock to Glasgow, and has reached the plane that was ready to return home. Macaskill has repeatedly reiterated that the man was convicted and that conviction remains valid, but said that in addition to the firmness, the Scots are always motivated by a sense of humanity, “Al-Megrahi showed no compassion for its victims. They have not been allowed to return to their families. He showed no compassion for them. But this is not enough for us to refuse mercy to him and his family in his last days. ”
“Our judicial system, claims that a sentence is imposed, but it is also possible compassion. Only this and nothing else, inspired my decision,” he explained, citing the opinion of doctors without uncertainties prison for which the remains little to be condemned to live. The departure of Al-Megrahi closes a chapter in the Lockerbie affair, a tragedy in which many people think there is more to do light.
But does not close some controversy. “Disgusto” were expressed by many families of victims in the U.S.. And behind the agreement with Libya for the exchange of prisoners, says the Daily Mail, there would be the richest contracts for oil companies like the British in Libya Bp; the agreement, according to the conservative tabloid, was outlined by former premier Tony Blair in talks occurred two years ago with the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The trial, which came after a lengthy tug-of-war between Libya, the U.S. and UK, has ruled that Al-Megrahi Frankfurt, at the official head of the Libyan airline security, organized the transfer of the bomb from an aircraft of Air Malta a flight to London. The bomb passed on Pan Am flight 103 direct to the USA. At 19:02 Gmt plane exploded. Died all persons on board, 11 more residents of the village of Lockerbie.
