Scottish Minister defends bomber\'s release

Scottish justice secretary, Kenny MacAskill, has defended his decision to free the Lockerbie bomber at a special meeting of the Scottish Parliament.



Mr MacAskill has been under increasing pressure after granting early release to terminally ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.



Megrahi was freed after receiving a life sentence imposed in 2001 for his conviction for the UK\'s worst terrorist atrocity, which claimed 270 lives in 1988.



The Justice Secretary is maintaining that the decision to release Megrahi followed due process and was the right one.



Mr MacAskill says the decision was based neither on political, diplomatic, nor economic considerations.