US stands against bomber release

[This is the heading over a report on the BBC News website. The following are excerpts.]

US officials have said the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing should serve out his sentence following reports that he could be released.

The BBC understands Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who has terminal cancer, is likely to be freed next week.

A US official told the BBC that they had no information that he was set be released on compassionate grounds.

However, he added that the American position remained that Megrahi should complete his jail term in Scotland. (...)

A US official told the BBC they had "no information to suggest that the Scottish authorities have taken any decision" to release Megrahi.

The official added: "We maintain our long-standing position that Megrahi should serve out the entirety of his sentence in Scotland for his part in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103." (...)

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said he had listened to the representations from everyone "with a legitimate interest".

"I now have to reflect," he said.

"I'm conscious that I have to do that as speedily as possible.

"Clearly he's terminally ill and there are other factors, but I have made no decision yet."

[A report on the website of The New York Times reads as follows:]

The United States spoke out Thursday against the prospect of an early release for the only person convicted in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, after Scottish government officials confirmed that they are considering freeing him on compassionate grounds next week because he has terminal prostate cancer. The prisoner, Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi, a 57-year-old Libyan and former intelligence agent who is serving a 27-year term in Scotland, was sentenced in 2001 for his role in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in which 270 people died. The majority of the dead were Americans. A State Department spokesman, Philip Crowley, said Thursday that “we have made our views clear to the U.K. government, to other authorities, that we believe that he should spend the rest of his time in jail.” The possible release got mixed reviews from the victims’ families. Susan Cohen, whose daughter was killed in the bombing, told Sky News that Mr. Megrahi’s release would be “a disgrace.” But Jim Swire, whose daughter died, told Sky it was “inhumane” to keep Mr. Megrahi in prison.