Friday, September 4, 2009

McCaren: Release Of Lockerbie Bomber 'Just Plain Stupid'


Foreign affairs secretary calls release of bombing suspect 'beyond irresponsible'

MAVOCKE, CEA--The outcry over the release of the only man convicted in the bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 and killed 270 people is growing, as more Grassadellan officials join the chorus of international leaders to condemn the bomber's release.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Jim McCaren made his disapproval of the bomber's release clear Thursday when he spoke with the GBC's Gene Caughley, calling the Scottish government's decision to prematurely release al-Megrahi "just plain stupid" and "beyond irresponsible."

"This just doesn't make sense. We're all really dumbfounded. We don't know how a responsible democratic government could release someone that played a major part in the deaths of 270 people. That's a very difficult thing to understand," McCaren told Caughley.

President Menuhaeo expressed similar views last week, saying at a press conference that the release of al-Megrahi is "an embarrassment to the Scottish government and the whole United Kingdom."

Al-Megrahi was convicted in 2001 of helping aid the bombing, which took place on December 21, 1988, and was sentenced to life in prison. However, the Scottish government gave al-Megrahi a "compassionate release" after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and on August 20th, allowed the suspect to return to his native Libya, where he was welcomed as a hero.

Al-Megrahi maintains his innocence, and is supported by many in Libya and elsewhere who believe he was scapegoated by the UK government for a crime he did not commit.

McCaren said he still respects the Scottish people but questions their government's judgement.

"This really brings into question the Scottish government's common sense," Mr. McCaren said.

On Wednesday, Scotland's parliament, by a margin of 73-50, voted to reject the government's release of al-Megrahi. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown as well as Foreign Secretary David Milibrand have been battling allegations the British government negotiated al-Megrahi's release in exchange for greater economic and energy-related cooperation from the Libyan government.

"There was no conspiracy, no cover up, no double dealing, no deal on oil, no attempt to instruct Scottish ministers," Brown said Wednesday.

Regardless of whether a deal was cut, the foreign affairs department is outraged at the bomber's release.

"If a deal was made, that just makes the matter worse," Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs Olivia Lisbet told the Grassadella City Times newspaper. "But even if there wasn't a deal, this was truly a bad decision."

Members of the UK parliament are already calling for an inquiry into al-Megrahi's investigation. David Cameron, leader of the minority Conservative party, has called for an independent inquiry into the matter, but it is unclear if a formal investigation will take place.

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