Pressure grows on governments on Lockerbie bomber release

Both the British and Scottish governments are facing acute pressure over the release of the Lockerbie bomber after the most stinging criticism yet of the move.

In an unprecedented attack, FBI director Robert Mueller told the Scottish justice secretary he was "outraged" at the release of Abdelbaset Ali Al Megrahi, saying it made a mockery of the law and gave comfort to terrorists.

Former Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell also slammed the decision, saying it was a "grave error of judgment" which had damaged the reputation of Scotland.

The blistering comments came as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown faced calls to explain a meeting he had with Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi when he apparently discussed the case. Mr Brown has yet to make a public comment, with senior ministers stressing it was a matter for the devolved Scottish government alone.

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the British government "urgently needs to clarify the approach that it took" to negotiations with Libya.

Megrahi, who is terminally ill with cancer, was freed by Mr MacAskill on compassionate grounds after serving eight years of a life sentence. He returned home to Libya to jubilant scenes that included people waving Scottish flags.

Former US prosecutor Mr Mueller, who played a key role in the investigation into the 1988 bombing which killed 270 people, told Mr MacAskill in a letter: "Your action in releasing Megrahi is as inexplicable as it is detrimental to the cause of justice. Indeed your action makes a mockery of the rule of law. Your action gives comfort to terrorists around the world."

The Scottish government responded to the letter, saying Mr MacAskill reached his conclusions on the basis of Scotland's "due process, clear evidence, and the recommendations from the parole board and prison governor".

Mr MacAskill will face questions from his peers when the Scottish Parliament is recalled a week early. Labour's Mr McConnell, who preceded the SNP's Alex Salmond, said it was up to the Scottish Parliament to take action to repair some of the "damage" caused by Megrahi's release.

Opposition parties have spoken out after Col Gaddafi's son Saif claimed that the decision to free Megrahi was tied to a trade agreement.

British Business Secretary Lord Mandelson dismissed suggestions of a deal as "offensive" and the British Foreign Office said in a statement: "No deal has been made between the UK Government and Libya in relation to Megrahi and any commercial interests in the country."