Secretary Clinton expresses regret one year after Lockerbie release
August 21st, 2010 - 12:11 am ICT by BNO NewsWASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday expressed regret on the first anniversary of the release of the man who bombed a Pan Am flight, killing 270 people.
Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi along with Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, were faced charges for their role in the December 21, 1988 bombed Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, claiming the lives of 270 innocent people, including 189 U.S. citizens. Fhimah was found not guilty and was acquitted, but al-Megrahi was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
The Scottish government on August 20, 2009, freed Megrahi on compassionate grounds after medical examinations revealed that Megrahi had terminal prostate cancer and was expected to live for less than three months. However, Megrahi continues living in freedom in his native Libya.
“The United States continues to categorically disagree with the decision made by the Scottish Executive to release al-Megrahi and return him to Libya last year,” Clinton said.
“As we have expressed repeatedly to Scottish authorities, we maintain that al-Megrahi should serve out the entirety of his sentence in prison in Scotland. We have and will continue to reiterate this position to the Scottish and Libyan authorities,” she added.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families who lost loved ones and share their desire for justice to prevail.”
- Lockerbie bomber who killed 270 is dead - May 20, 2012
- Lockerbie bomber found at mother's house - Aug 29, 2011
- Britain told US not to intervene in Lockerbie bomber release: Wikileaks - Apr 11, 2011
- 1988 Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi dies in Tripoli - May 20, 2012
- U.S. presidential candidate Romney calls on Libyan rebels to extradite Lockerbie bomber - Aug 23, 2011
- US upset over release of Lockerbie bomber - Aug 21, 2009
- 'UK pressurised Scotland to release Lockerbie bomber over oil deal between BP-Libya' - Dec 22, 2010
- Family of Lockerbie bomber refuse to discuss his health - Sep 20, 2010
- Releasing Megrahi a mistake: Obama - Aug 21, 2009
- US wants Lockerbie bomber Megrahi to return to jail - Aug 21, 2010
- Gaddafi must face Lockerbie trial, says acquitted man - Aug 28, 2011
- Scottish minister stands by decision to free Lockerbie bomber - Aug 19, 2010
- Colonel Gaddafi personally ordered Lockerbie bombing: Ex- Justice Minister - Feb 24, 2011
- Statement by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the release of the Lockerbie bomber - Aug 20, 2009
- Clinton seeks review of Lockerbie bomber's release decision - Jul 20, 2010
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