Lockerbie bomber hospitalised in Tripoli: Report
September 1st, 2009 - 3:09 pm ICT by IANSCairo, Sep 1 (RIA Novosti) The man convicted of organising the 1988 Lockerbie plane bombing and whose recent prison release sparked worldwide protest has been hospitalised in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, a media report said.
Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi is thought to have prostate cancer and has days to live.
According to Al Jazeera television, al-Megrahi’s condition deteriorated Monday and his doctors decided to put him in a hospital.
Al-Megrahi was convicted in 2001 of organising the bombing of Pan Am flight 103. The plane exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing 259 people on board and 11 on the ground. 170 victims of the bombing were US citizens.
Al-Megrahi was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years behind bars in 2001.
In April, Britain and Libya signed an agreement on the exchange of prisoners. In May, Libyan authorities officially requested the transfer of 57-year-old al-Megrahi to Libya on health grounds.
His release on compassionate grounds by Scottish authorities and subsequent return to Libya, where he was cheered at the airport by a throng of supporters, has sparked a global wave of criticism.
Libya accepted responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing in 2005 and said it would pay some $2.7 billion in compensation to the families of those who died in the bombing. The move led to the lifting of sanctions against Libya and was instrumental in the restoration of ties between the North African state and the West.
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- Lockerbie bomber who killed 270 is dead - May 20, 2012
- 1988 Lockerbie bomber al-Megrahi dies in Tripoli - May 20, 2012
- Colonel Gaddafi personally ordered Lockerbie bombing: Ex- Justice Minister - Feb 24, 2011
- Lockerbie bomber found at mother's house - Aug 29, 2011
- Britain told US not to intervene in Lockerbie bomber release: Wikileaks - Apr 11, 2011
- Scottish minister stands by decision to free Lockerbie bomber - Aug 19, 2010
- 'Lockerbie bomber close to dying' - Dec 09, 2010
- U.S. presidential candidate Romney calls on Libyan rebels to extradite Lockerbie bomber - Aug 23, 2011
- Libyan leader Gaddafi meets Lockerbie bomber - Aug 22, 2009
- Lockerbie bomber's family to sue Scotland over 'medical neglect' in jail: Gaddafi - Dec 03, 2010
- Scottish officials skeptical about Lockerbie Bomber being close to death - Dec 10, 2010
- 'UK pressurised Scotland to release Lockerbie bomber over oil deal between BP-Libya' - Dec 22, 2010
- US upset over release of Lockerbie bomber - Aug 21, 2009
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