Fury over 'terminally ill' Lockerbie bomber still living six months after release

Edinburgh (Scotland), Feb 15(ANI): Cancer-hit Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi's 'ever improving health' has sparked fresh fury, as Scotland Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has been criticized for not seeking a second opinion on his condition.

Megrahi has defied the medical forecast that he had three months to live when he was controversially released from prison six months ago.

The latest outrage comes in the wake of a Holyrood probe, which criticized MacAskill for not seeking a second opinion on Megrahi's condition before making the decision to release him from jail on compassionate grounds.

"The fact is, more than six months down the line, Megrahi is still alive. I note his birthday is six weeks away and falls on April 1," The Sun quoted Bill Aitken, Tory justice spokesman, as saying.

"If he survives to that date, he will have made April Fools of all of us - especially MacAskill," he added.

Megrahi was sentenced to life imprisonment for the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am passenger jet, which claimed the lives of 270 people.

Meanwhile, a Scottish Government spokesman defended MacAskill's decision to release the bomber.

"MacAskill's decision to allow Megrahi to return to Libya to die was based on medical information which shows he has a terminal condition and the recommendations of the Parole Board and prison governor," the spokesman said.

"He made the right decision for the right reasons. He followed due process and has repeatedly expressed his deepest sympathy for the relatives of all victims of the Lockerbie atrocity," the spokesman added. (ANI)