Obama: mistake to let Megrahi fly home to die

The Lockerbie bomber left Britain a free man today after being released on compassionate grounds – a decision US president Barack Obama labelled a “mistake”.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, who has terminal prostate cancer, was allowed to leave prison to go home to die.

He was released by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, who said Megrahi “now faces a sentence imposed by a higher power”.

But the move caused anger on both sides of the Atlantic with the family of one victim describing his release as “disgusting” and Mr Obama urging the Libyans to make sure he remains under house arrest once he is home.

Mr Obama said: “We have been in contact with the Scottish Government indicating that we object to this. We thought it was a mistake.

“We are now contacting the Libyan government to make sure that if this transfer has taken place, he is not welcomed back in some way but should instead be under house arrest.”

Tonight, the Scottish Parliament was recalled and MSPs will get the chance to quiz Mr MacAskill on his decision on Monday.

Megrahi served just seven years, five months and four days for murdering 270 people when a Pan Am plane was blown up over Lockerbie in 1988.

The 57-year-old was informed of his release at 1pm as Mr MacAskill told the world.

Two hours later, he boarded the Airbus A300 still clutching his release papers as he climbed the steps.

Dressed in a white tracksuit and wearing what appeared to be a Nike baseball cap with a scarf masking his face, he was able to walk with only the aid of a stick.

He boarded alone and was met by a camera crew thought to be filming Megrahi’s return for Libyan television.

Libyan government officials and medical staff were also onboard.

In a statement issued by his lawyers, Megrahi said: “I am obviously very relieved to be leaving my prison cell at last and returning to Libya, my homeland.”

The Libyan government has played down claims he will return to Tripoli a hero.

He will be required to live permanently at a given address in Libya, must agree any change of address and must not travel from Libya without consent, the Scottish Government said.