The Scottish government has defended its decision to release the Lockerbie bomber, amid mounting criticism on both sides of the Atlantic.
It follows an attack by the head of the FBI, who said freeing Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi made a "mockery of justice". (...)
The Scottish Government said last night the Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill had reached his conclusions on the basis of Scotland's "due process, clear evidence, and the recommendations from the parole board and prison governor".
The comments came in response to a letter from Robert Mueller, chief of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, who said the action made a "mockery of the rule of law" and "gave comfort to terrorists".
Mr Mueller is a former prosecutor who played a key role in investigating the 1988 Lockerbie bombing which killed 270 people. (...)
But in its statement, the Scottish government said: "The US authorities indicated although they were opposed to both prisoner transfer and compassionate release, they made it clear they regarded compassionate release as far preferable to the transfer agreement, and Mr Mueller should be aware of that.
"Mr Mueller was involved in the Lockerbie case, and therefore has strong views, but he should also be aware that while many families have opposed Mr MacAskill's decision many others have supported it."
[The above are excerpts from a report on the BBC News website.]
FBI Director, Robert S Mueller, who boasts that he was Assistant Attorney General in charge of the investigation and indictment of Mr Megrahi in 1991, might find himself the subject of investigation when a United Nations Inquiry into the 1988 Lockerbie bombing is instituted in the coming months.
ReplyDeleteThat's just one. There are a hell of a lot more including the three judges, all of whom should be prosecuted and jailed. I think Libya would be the ideal location for the trial and of course imprisonment and that they should all serve when found guilty the minimum of ten years isolated from each other but in the company of Libyan inmates.
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