Libya welcome for Lockerbie bomber 'disgusting' - US

THE WHITE HOUSE last night gave vent to its fury over the release of the convicted Lockerbie bomber when it described the triumphalist…

THE WHITE HOUSE last night gave vent to its fury over the release of the convicted Lockerbie bomber when it described the triumphalist scenes greeting his homecoming at Tripoli airport as “outrageous and disgusting”.

Amid growing anger on both sides of the Atlantic at the decision of the Scottish government to free the man convicted of the murder of 270 people on Pan Am flight 103, the British government went out of its way to distance itself from the decision.

Downing Street confirmed that Gordon Brown had written a personal letter to Col Muammar Gadafy calling on Libya to “act with sensitivity” and to ensure a “low-key return” for Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. Hours after Britain sent the letter, however, Megrahi was cheered by hundreds of supporters, some waving Scottish flags, as he landed at Tripoli airport accompanied by the Libyan leader’s son.

David Miliband, the UK foreign secretary, drew criticism for refusing to offer an opinion on whether he supported the release, and felt moved to calm the diplomatic row by publishing a statement on the website of the British embassy in Washington saying that the decision to release Megrahi was entirely a matter for the Scottish government.

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US unease at the way the episode is being received by victims’ families was highlighted last night when the White House condemned the scenes at Tripoli airport in unusually undiplomatic language. Robert Gibbs, Barack Obama’s spokesman, said: “I think those images we saw in Libya yesterday were outrageous and disgusting. We continue to express our condolences to those families that lost loved ones as a result of this terrorist outrage.”

Mr Obama himself described the scenes in Tripoli as “highly objectionable”, and the White House warned the Libyan government that it risked a rift in relations between the two countries if there is any repetition of the hero’s welcome for Megrahi. Gibbs said the US would be keeping a close watch on what happens next in Libya. The US told the Libyans it wants Megrahi to be held under house arrest. Part of the American anger is due to the fact that Libya snubbed a direct plea by Mr Obama on Thursday, before Megrahi arrived back, not to award him a hero’s welcome.

Downing Street was also irritated by the scenes at the airport. Sir Vincent Fean, the British ambassador to Tripoli, delivered Brown’s letter to the Libyan prime minister an hour after the aircraft flying Megrahi home had left Glasgow airport at 3.26pm on Thursday.

British government sources said they were “not over the moon” about the celebrations. But they accepted Libyan explanations that it had not been an official demonstration, and that security officials had turned away crowds at the airport.

Mr Miliband made clear that he will be monitoring Libyan conduct. Britain will be upset if Megrahi maintains a high profile and Col Gadafy meets him in person. Describing the scenes at the airport as “deeply upsetting”, Mr Miliband said: “I think it’s very important that Libya knows – and certainly we have told them – that how the Libyan government handles itself in the next few days after the arrival of Mr Megrahi will be very significant in the way the world views Libya’s re-entry into the civilised community of nations.”

In a sign that Anglo-Libyan relations have been damaged by the release, British government sources indicated last night that it was highly unlikely the Duke of York would attend ceremonies next month to mark the 40th anniversary of the Libyan revolution that brought Col Gadafy to power. No formal invitation has been sent, but the duke, Britain’s official trade envoy, had been expected to attend the event.

Amid hopes in London and Washington that the row will quieten over the weekend, the Scottish government is planning to launch a strong defence of its decision. Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish justice secretary, who released Megrahi on compassionate grounds because he has terminal cancer, is expected to criticise London’s conduct when the Scottish parliament, which is being recalled, meets in emergency session on Monday.

Mr MacAskill is said to be furious with the UK government for refusing to take part in his consultations over the release. SNP sources believe Mr Brown ordered ministers not to take part – in contrast with the US authorities, who had lengthy discussions with MacAskill – so that London could distance itself from the decision.

The UK government refused to answer in detail a letter from Mr MacAskill after the US authorities told him London had given an assurance that Megrahi would always serve his sentence in Scotland. Mr MacAskill says London’s failure to answer this question was one reason why he could not transfer Megrahi to a prison in Libya