Al-Megrahi: Majority Of Scots Disagree With Release Of Bomber

Poll Finds Majority Of Scots Disagree With Decision To Free Al-Megrahi

The majority of Scots disagree with decision to release Lockerbie bomber Abdulbaset Ali al-Megrahi, according to an Ipsos MORI poll.

Scotland's justice minister granted al-Megrahi an early release in August 2009 on compassionate grounds, following a diagnosis of terminal cancer with a life expectancy of around three months. His release sparked international outrage. Two years on and al-Megrahi is still alive, with the poll suggesting the majority of Scots disagree with the decision to free him.

At the time, it was suspected that the government’s decision to release al-Megrahi had more to do with oil prospects in Libya than his illness, coming against a backdrop of a rapprochement between Britain and the Gaddafi regime.

The poll, most of which was conducted before footage of al-Megrahi at home was broadcast this week, reveals that more than half of the Scots polled (55 per cent) think that the Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, was wrong to make the release. Nearly half (46 per cent) said that they ‘strongly disagree’ with the decision.

Around a third of Scots (34 per cent) support the decision, falling from 42 per cent in 2009. The proportion of Scots who ‘strongly agree’ with the decision has remained relatively steady (22 per cent in 2009 and 19 per cent today).

Of the political parties, 44 per cent of SNP supporters backed the decision, down by 14 per cent from 2009. The majority of Conservative supporters disagreed with the decision (74 per cent) as did Labour supporters (61 per cent), with around half Lib Dem supporters disagreeing with the decision.

Mark Diffley, the Ipsos MORI director, said: “The gap between opponents and supporters of the decision is now seven points higher than it was in 2009, suggesting that some Scots who supported the original decision have changed their minds in light of Mr al-Megrahi living longer than expected.”

Washington was vociferously opposed to al-Megrahi's release in 2009, and there are still calls for him to be extradited. Some U.S. lawmakers are even demanding the United States punish the rebel leadership unless they turn him over.

Last week, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney called on the "new government” to arrest and extradite al-Megrahi "so justice can finally be done."

First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, commented on Monday on the latest developments in al-Megrahi's condition. He said: "The latest pictures broadcast of Mr al-Megrahi clearly demonstrate that he is an extremely sick man, dying of terminal prostate cancer. Hopefully, this will end the ridiculous conspiracy theories that seek to claim anything else. We have never had - and do not have - any intention of asking for the extradition of Mr al-Megrahi, because he has conformed to his licence conditions.”

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