Convicted Pan Am 103 bombing participant released by Scottish authorities

Abdel Baset Mohamed al-Megrahi, the Libyan intelligence officer convicted of participating in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, was released from prison by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill yesterday so that al-Megrahi could return home to Libya.

He has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and is not expected to live more than a few months, according to widespread press reports. The action, which had been expected, drew a strong rebuke from Washington.

"The United States deeply regrets the decision by the Scottish Executive to release Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said in a statement. "As we have expressed repeatedly to officials of the government of the United Kingdom and to Scottish authorities, we continue to believe that Megrahi should serve out his sentence in Scotland. On this day, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families who live every day with the loss of their loved ones. We recognize the effects of such a loss weigh upon a family forever."

President Barack Obama added in a radio interview that it "was a mistake" to release al-Megrahi and encouraged the Libyan government to place him under house arrest.

All 259 people onboard the Pan Am 747 and 11 people on the ground were killed when the aircraft exploded on Dec. 21, 1988. Al-Megrahi was convicted of the crime in 2001 and sentenced to life in prison.