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19 August 2011
Last updated at 19:56 ET
On the second anniversary of the release of the Lockerbie bomber, the Scottish government claimed it had been "vindicated" over its controversial decision to free him.
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was released from Greenock prison in 2009 after being given three months to live.
Two years on, the Scottish government said it stood by its decision.
A spokesman said senior figures in the US, British and Scottish jurisdictions have agreed it was taken in good faith.
Megrahi was jailed in 2001 for the Lockerbie atrocity which claimed 270 lives in 1988.
The decision by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to release him sparked international condemnation from some relatives of victims and politicians, including US President Barack Obama - but also attracted high-profile support from figures such as Nelson Mandela.
A spokesman for the First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Two years of extensive scrutiny, under three jurisdictions, vindicates the position that the justice secretary released al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds and compassionate grounds alone.
"Regardless of people's views, they can have complete confidence that it was taken on the basis of Scots law, and without any consideration of the economic, political and diplomatic factors that the then UK government based its position on.
"Whether people support or oppose the decision, it was made following the due process of Scots law, we stand by it, and al-Megrahi is dying of terminal prostate cancer."
Megrahi memoirs A leading cancer specialist had said that it was likely the convicted bomber was being kept alive by pills not available in the UK.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
Prof Kirby, of The Prostate Centre in London, said he believed Megrahi was "almost certainly" being kept alive by a hormone-based therapy called abiraterone.
Meanwhile, the author helping Megrahi write his memoirs has told BBC Scotland that the convicted bomber wants the public to "know the truth" about the case.
Speaking ahead of the second anniversary of his release, British journalist John Ashton, who worked as a researcher alongside Megrahi's legal team, said the Libyan wanted evidence which would have been heard during his appeal to finally be made public.
Mr Ashton said: "His dream was always to overturn his conviction and to achieve freedom through that.
"When he made the decision to go home and abandon his appeal he called me in and said that he wanted me to write a book because he wanted the public to the know the truth.
"He wanted them to know the evidence that would have been heard during the appeal."
The author also echoed concerns raised by others that Megrahi may be attacked by or handed over to US forces in Libya.
He added: "If we are to believe what we read then yes he is under threat because the rebels have promised to hand him over to the Americans, apparently, and the Americans have said they are going to take him back to America and try him there, which is ridiculous and illegal."
Relatives of victims of the Lockerbie bombing are still looking for clarity and answers.
Pamela Dix, whose brother Peter was killed in the bombing, said: "It's extremely frustrating that we're here, still talking about this.
"The fact that it's now years later means that the decision was probably made on a spurious basis.
"I'm sure Kenny MacAskill made it in good faith, but why are we having this discussion now? It's just another thing that remains unsolved."
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Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was released from Greenock prison in 2009 after being given three months to live.
Two years on, the Scottish government said it stood by its decision.
A spokesman said senior figures in the US, British and Scottish jurisdictions have agreed it was taken in good faith.
Megrahi was jailed in 2001 for the Lockerbie atrocity which claimed 270 lives in 1988.
The decision by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to release him sparked international condemnation from some relatives of victims and politicians, including US President Barack Obama - but also attracted high-profile support from figures such as Nelson Mandela.
A spokesman for the First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Two years of extensive scrutiny, under three jurisdictions, vindicates the position that the justice secretary released al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds and compassionate grounds alone.
"Regardless of people's views, they can have complete confidence that it was taken on the basis of Scots law, and without any consideration of the economic, political and diplomatic factors that the then UK government based its position on.
"Whether people support or oppose the decision, it was made following the due process of Scots law, we stand by it, and al-Megrahi is dying of terminal prostate cancer."
Megrahi memoirs A leading cancer specialist had said that it was likely the convicted bomber was being kept alive by pills not available in the UK.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
He is under threat because the rebels have promised to hand him over to the Americans apparently ”
End Quote
John Ashton
Author
Prof Kirby, of The Prostate Centre in London, said he believed Megrahi was "almost certainly" being kept alive by a hormone-based therapy called abiraterone.
Meanwhile, the author helping Megrahi write his memoirs has told BBC Scotland that the convicted bomber wants the public to "know the truth" about the case.
Speaking ahead of the second anniversary of his release, British journalist John Ashton, who worked as a researcher alongside Megrahi's legal team, said the Libyan wanted evidence which would have been heard during his appeal to finally be made public.
Mr Ashton said: "His dream was always to overturn his conviction and to achieve freedom through that.
"When he made the decision to go home and abandon his appeal he called me in and said that he wanted me to write a book because he wanted the public to the know the truth.
"He wanted them to know the evidence that would have been heard during the appeal."
The author also echoed concerns raised by others that Megrahi may be attacked by or handed over to US forces in Libya.
He added: "If we are to believe what we read then yes he is under threat because the rebels have promised to hand him over to the Americans, apparently, and the Americans have said they are going to take him back to America and try him there, which is ridiculous and illegal."
Relatives of victims of the Lockerbie bombing are still looking for clarity and answers.
Pamela Dix, whose brother Peter was killed in the bombing, said: "It's extremely frustrating that we're here, still talking about this.
"The fact that it's now years later means that the decision was probably made on a spurious basis.
"I'm sure Kenny MacAskill made it in good faith, but why are we having this discussion now? It's just another thing that remains unsolved."
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