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Rediff.com  » News » Obama sore at Libyan terrorist's release

Obama sore at Libyan terrorist's release

Source: PTI
August 20, 2009 20:43 IST
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US President Barack Obama today regretted the decision of Scotland to release a Libyan terrorist involved in the bombing of Pan-Am Flight 103 that killed 270 people, including 189 Americans.

The Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, also expressed her deep disappointment on the decision.

"The United States deeply regrets the decision by the Scottish Executive to release Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi," Obama said.

Megrahi was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for his role in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which blew up over Scotland on December 21, 1988.

"As we have expressed repeatedly to officials of the government of the United Kingdom and to Scottish authorities, we continue to believe that Megrahi should serve out his sentence in Scotland," Obama said.

"On this day, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families who live every day with the loss of their loved ones. We recognize the effects of such a loss weigh upon a family forever," he said.

In a separate statement, Clinton said the US is deeply disappointed by the decision of the Scottish Executive to release Megrahi who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for his part in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which took the lives of 270 persons, including 189 Americans. Scotland today freed the terminally-ill Libyan jailed for the bombing on compassionate grounds despite fierce US opposition, Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced.

"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," Clinton said. "Today, we remember those whose lives were lost on December 21, 1988 and we extend our deepest sympathies to the families who live each day with the loss of their loved ones due to this heinous crime," she said.

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