Mixed Reactions Trail Release Of Lockerbie Bomber
Libyans
are celebrating the return of a top Security
Service Official, Abdel Basit Ali al Megrahi jailed
for the blowing up a US airliner over Lockerbie in
Scotland.
The son of Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi
called his release a courageous step by Scotland and
Britain.
I89 Americans were among those who died in the
explosion.
Al Megrahi was allowed to go back to Libya on
compassionate ground by the Scottish authorities
after diagnosed for terminal cancer.
Angry Reactions
But there was angry reaction from families of those
killed in the bombing and from US President, Barack
Obama.
U. S.
President Obama described Megrahi's release, eight
years into his life sentence, as a mistake.
He had
told the Libyan government that Megrahi, who has
terminal cancer, should not receive a hero's welcome
and be placed under house arrest.
Susan
Cohen of New Jersey, whose twenty-year-old daughter,
Theodora died in the bombing, said it was so
sickening she could hardly find words to describe
the death of her poor daughter.
Kara
Weipz, who lost her brother, said the move was an
insult as Megrahi did not show any remorse. But
other relatives reacted differently to the news.
British relatives' spokesman, Dr Jim Swire, who lost
his daughter, Flora in the attack, reiterated his
view that Megrahi had "nothing to do with" the
bombing.
Ross
MacDonald said he did not believe for a moment that
the man was involved in the way that he was found to
have been involved.
BBC/ Qasim/Ahaziah /
Funke