Megrahi release ‘a mistake’

THE appearance of the convicted Lockerbie bomber on Libyan television has confirmed a “great mistake” was made in releasing him from jail, Foreign Secretary William Hague said.

Mr Hague said Abdelbaset al-Megrahi’s release from a Scottish prison almost two years ago on compassionate grounds was “absolutely the wrong thing to do”.

A Libyan television presenter introduced Megrahi at what appeared to be a pro-government rally, and said his conviction was the result of a “conspiracy”.

Megrahi served nearly eight years of a 27-year sentence after being convicted of killing 270 people in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 four days before Christmas in 1988.

He returned to Libya in August 2009 after being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. The Scottish Government accepted advice that he had about three months to live.

At a press conference in central London, Mr Hague said the footage demonstrated that this advice was “pretty much worthless”.

He said: “I think the appearance of Mr al-Megrahi on our television screens is a further reminder that a great mistake was made when he was released.

“The Prime Minister and I, when we were in opposition, both strongly disagreed with that position by Scottish ministers. We disagreed with what has subsequently been revealed about the facilitation by the previous Labour government at Westminster of moves towards the release of al-Megrahi.”