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Last update - 20:23 20/08/2009
U.S. 'deeply regrets' decision to free Lockerbie bomber
By New Agencies
Tags: Libya, Terrorism, Israel News 

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton slammed the decision by Scotland to release the Libyan man convicted of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 that killed 270 people.

In a statement released by the State Department on Thursday, Clinton, who is on vacation, said she is deeply disappointed by the decision to release al-Megrahi.

"We have continued to communicate our long-standing position to UK government officials and Scottish authorities that Megrahi should serve out the entirety of his sentence in Scotland," the statement read.
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Also Thursday, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the United States had repeatedly asked Scotland to keep Abdel Baset al-Megrahi in custody. Gibbs said: On this day, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families who live every day with the loss of their loved ones.

Attorney General Eric Holder released a statement saying he was extremely
disappointed with the release.

The interests of justice have not been served by this decision, it said. There is simply no justification for releasing this convicted terrorist whose actions took the lives of 270 individuals, including 189 Americans.

Holder's statement said that al-Megrahi did not show and has not shown
compassion for innocent human life, and as we communicated to the Scottish authorities and the UK government, it continues to be our position that he should have been required to serve the entire sentence handed down for his crimes.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the order to release
al-Megrahi grew out of the convicted bomber's deteriorating health. He has prostate cancer and is not expected to live much longer.

In a statement released Thursday on his behalf, al-Megrahi addressed the bomb victims' relatives, stating, "They continue to have my sincere sympathy for the unimaginable loss that they have suffered." Also in the statement, al-Megrahi maintains his innocence.


He had served only eight years of a life sentence in Scotland for the December 21, 1988, bombing over the town of Lockerbie.



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      1.   Obama/Clinton duplicity 17:31  |  Christopher 20/08/09
      2.   lockerbie bomber 17:36  |  Irene Hammond 20/08/09
      3.   "terminal" prostate cancer 17:39  |  MP MD 20/08/09
      4.   A slap in the face 17:42  |  American 20/08/09
      5.   We Don`t do Revenge 17:58  |  Andrew 20/08/09
      6.   Well mb cos this conviction was based on pretty flimzy proof 18:00  |  Ezra 20/08/09
      7.   Israel should also learn to say NO to America 18:04  |  Absolute Sweden 20/08/09
      8.   the scots and the Lybians 18:14  |  arye 20/08/09
      9.   Let us all thank the brits...yet again 18:22  |  Arie 20/08/09
      10.   Scotland - United States 1 - 0 18:28  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/08/09
      11.   A reminder to the USA: Iran Air Flight 655 18:39  |  Toronto 20/08/09
      12.   Swiss (Dino) playing the scots against the US 18:55  |  Arie 20/08/09
      13.   It`s not personal, it`s just business. 19:00  |  H 20/08/09
      14.   Proud to be Scottish 20:00  |  Gary 20/08/09
      15.   early release 20:04  |  Michael Levine 20/08/09
      16.   Scottish compassion? More like UK immorality. 1933-1939 again? 20:07  |  common sense 20/08/09
      17.   New Humanitarianism: murderer of 270 freed for cancer .. then 20:11  |  mhung 20/08/09
      18.   RE: Toronto 20:24  |  judith 20/08/09
      19.   Compassion...? 20:25  |  Esther 20/08/09
      20.   # 5 andrew 20:36  |  Axel 20/08/09
      21.   THE WORLD SHOULD START PROTECTING 20:55  |  ITS OWN PEOPLE 20/08/09
      22.   Canadian new coverage 21:05  |  Canadian 20/08/09
      23.   21 ITS OWN PEOPLE 02:40  |  Hugh 21/08/09
      24.   He Didnt Do It 03:34  |  LawyerII 21/08/09
      25.   FBI Calm Down I`m Psychic Google Me... 04:20  |  Yosemite 21/08/09
      26.   Hero`s welcome for PanAm butcher showcases Obama`s new "buddies" 04:22  |  Dr. L. Brnd 21/08/09
      27.   If No Print... 04:35  |  Yosemite 21/08/09
      28.   What cannot be said 04:44  |  Mark Lincoln 21/08/09
      29.   Well At Least... 05:16  |  Yosemite 21/08/09
      30.   Oil oil oil 05:59  |  TOBIA 21/08/09
      31.   double standard 06:37  |  LiaDElana 21/08/09
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