2001 for the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103
A Libyan former agent jailed for the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over the Scottish town of Lockerbie has landed in Libya after being freed from prison on the orders of Scotland's justice minister.
Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, 57, who is dying of prostate cancer, flew home on Thursday after Kenny MacAskill said he should be released on compassionate grounds.
"It is my decision that Mr al-Megrahi ... be released on compassionate grounds and be returned to Libya to die," he said.
The announcement has been met with heavy criticism from the United States government and some victims' families, who believe al-Megrahi, held responsible for the 270 deaths in the bombing, should remain behind bars.
Barack Obama, the US president, described the release as a "mistake" and said that al-Megrahi should be placed under house arrest on his return.
Al-Megrahi returned to Libya after boarding a plane at Prestwick airport in Glasgow, Scotland. Read more here ...
Source: Al Jazeera (English)
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