This is the title of an article by Afaf Geblawi, writing from Tripoli, on the website of Middle East Online. It reads in part:
'For Libyan analyst Mustapha Zeidi, the country has been the victim of "injustice and an irrational stubbornness on the part of Western countries," squeezing Tripoli with economic and political pressures.
'"This confrontation with the West had serious repercussions on the country's development," said Zeidi, a prominent politician in Libya. It was only "wisdom of Libyan policies" that allowed both sides not to lose face.
'For Zeidi, intelligence agent Abdel Baset Ali Mohammed al-Megrahi who was jailed for the 1988 plane bombing over the Scottish village of Lockerbie is a "political hostage" who has been "sacrificed for his country".
'Mahmud Bussifi, editor-in-chief of Oea newspaper which is close to Gathafi's influential son Seif al-Islam, says it is high time for the West to tell the truth of Megrahi's innocence on the basis of new evidence which has emerged.
'Megrahi, handed over by the Libyan authorities in 1999, was two years later condemned to a life prison term with a minimum 27 years behind bars for the December 21, 1988 bombing which killed 270 people.
'The Libyan agent, who has terminal cancer, is behind bars in Scotland awaiting an appeal scheduled for next year.
'"Although we are certain of his innocence, the only thing that interests us now is for him to be able to spend his remaining days with us, even if it is in Scotland," said wife Aisha, warning of his "critical" condition.
'She thanked the efforts of Libyan authorities to have him released and "the compassion and support of victims' families who also believe in his innocence."'
The full text can be read here.
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