Scottish minister defends Lockerbie bomber release

Watch Video

Play Video

The Scottish Justice Secretary has told lawmakers he stands by his decision to free the Lockerbie bomber, Abdel Baset al-Megrahi. But Kenny MacAskill said the warm welcome in Tripoli last week for al-Megrahi breached assurances from Libyan authorities that the return would be low-key.

MacAskill addressed the Holyrood parliament on Monday.

Kenny MacAskill, Scottish Justice Secretary, said, "No compassion was shown by him to them, but that alone is not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days."

Al-Megrahi is the only man convicted of killing 270 people, including 189 Americans, in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103. The jet crashed in the Scottish town of Lockerbie. Al-Megrahi was released last week on compassionate grounds, because he is terminally ill with prostate cancer.

Some Scottish legislators and Britain and the US criticized the lavish reception al-Megrahi received when arriving at Tripoli's airport.

A Conservative Leader argued that al-Megrahi should have been detained to receive treatment in Scotland.

Both the US government and families of the bombing victims criticized the release.