A Senate delegation “said on Friday that it had told Libyan leaders of Washington’s strong opposition to any early release by the Scottish authorities of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi,” the AFP reports.
"We have made clear to the Libyan authorities that we are resolutely opposed to his release," said Senator John McCain, the defeated Republican candidate in last year’s presidential election.
Fellow Senator Joseph Lieberman, who sits as an independent, warned of "damage" to US-Libyan relations if Megrahi, who is serving a life sentence with a minimum 27-year tariff for the deadly 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the Scottish village, is freed early on compassionate grounds.
"Relationships between Libya and US could be tested in the days ahead if Abdelbasset Ali al-Megrahi is released by Scottish authorities," he told a news conference at the end of the delegation’s 24-hour visit.
"If Megrahi is released, there will be a very negative reaction by the American people."
Background on the bombing:
The bombing killed all 259 on board the airliner, and 11 people on the ground. Many of those on the flight were Americans travelling home for the Christmas holidays.
A spokeswoman “said the Scottish government is considering two options for Megrahi, who has been diagnosed with terminal prostrate cancer — transferring him to Libya to serve out his sentence, or compassionate release — but added that no decision would taken until later this month.”
Congress in Your Pocket
