Video:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8213210.stm
“Large crowds greet Megrahi in Libya”
Video Description - Quote:
The Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, has returned home to Libya after being freed from prison on compassionate grounds.
The 57-year-old is suffering from terminal cancer and has been allowed to go back to his family to die, a decision by the Scottish Government which has been criticised by the US and by some bereaved families.
Note: Video and photos included.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8213077.stm
Page last updated at 23:11 GMT, Thursday, 20 August 2009 00:11 UK
“Homecoming for Lockerbie bomber”
SNIPPET: “Megrahi was welcomed by well-wishers on his arrival in Tripoli”
SNIPPET: “The Libyan man jailed in Scotland for blowing up a US airliner over Lockerbie in 1988 has arrived back in Libya after being set free.
The Scottish government released Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who is 57 and has terminal cancer, on compassionate grounds.
US President Barack Obama said the move was “a mistake”, and some relatives of US victims reacted angrily.
Most of the 270 people who died in the bombing were Americans.
In a radio interview, Mr Obama said: “We have been in contact with the Scottish government, indicating that we objected to this. We thought it was a mistake.”
He added that his administration had told the Libyan government that Megrahi should not receive a hero’s welcome and should be placed under house arrest.”
SNIPPET: “Correspondents say the Libyan authorities will regard his release as a triumph.
Hundreds of people waved Libyan flags as his plane landed at Tripoli airport at 1830 GMT.
Within minutes Megrahi was whisked away to meet Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi and then his elderly mother, the BBC’s Christian Fraser reports from the scene.
Compassion
It was a jet owned by Col Gaddafi that carried Megrahi back to Libya after his release on Thursday from Scotland’s Greenock Prison.”