Lockerbie bomber to be released

The Libyan man convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing in which 270 people died is to be freed on compassionate grounds.



Fifty-seven-year-old Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, was jailed in 2001 for the attack.



Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill revealed that the Libyan, who has terminal prostate cancer, would be allowed to return to his homeland.



The US Government says it deeply regrets the Scottish Government\'s decision to release Megrahi.



However Mr. MacAskill said the government had consulted widely before the decision was made on applications for Megrahi\'s compassionate release or his transfer to a Libyan jail.



He says the decision was confirmed after taking medical advice that the convict has about three months left to live.