Libyans Paid for Lockerbie Bomber's Terminal Diagnosis

Embarrassed doctor calls prognosis 'unusual'

(NEWSER) - The Libyan man convicted of 270 counts of murder for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and freed by Scotland in 2009 because he was dying of prostate cancer could live for 10 more years, the doctor whose opinion helped free him now says. Abdelbasat Ali al-Megrahi, the only person convicted in the bombing of the Pan Am flight, was believed to have 3 months to live when he was granted compassionate release so he could die in Libya. His survival is "very unusual," Karol Sikora tells the Sunday Times of London, according to MSNBC . More»

Three-month life expectancy was only an approximate, says Scot minister

(NEWSER) - Scotland caused international outrage when it released Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi to Libya on compassionate grounds because he had only three months to live. That was six months ago. While the convicted terrorist continues to call Scotland twice monthly as per the terms of his parole, Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill was scrambling to back off the 3-month window as an approximation as early as last month. Victims' relatives aren't amused. More»

(NEWSER) - President Obama today brought his displeasure over the release of the Lockerbie bomber directly to Gordon Brown’s attention, the BBC reports. Obama did not specifically blame Brown, but relatives of those who died are outraged at the release, and the president has called it a “mistake.” The UK PM maintains the decision to spring Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was entirely up to the Scottish government. More»

(NEWSER) - A British official today denied suggestions that the government struck a deal to free the Lockerbie bomber in exchange for a nice price on Libyan oil, reports the Guardian. "It's not only completely wrong to make such a suggestion, it's also quite offensive," said the business secretary. The allegation arose after Moammar Gadhafi's son said the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi had been linked to trade talks over gas and oil, followed up by Gadhafi himself publicly thanking Gordon Brown. More»

Al-Megrahi says he only has 'days, weeks, months' to live

(NEWSER) - From a bed at his Tripoli home, a frail-looking Abdel Basset al-Megrahi insisted to Reuters that his role in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing was smaller than people think. "The West exaggerated my name. Please leave me alone. I only have a few more days, weeks, or months" to live, said al-Megrahi, who was released from a Scottish prison two years ago due to his terminal cancer. "The facts (about the Lockerbie bombing) will become clear one day and hopefully in the near future. In a few months from now, you will see new facts that will be announced," he said. More»