Scottish Labour has criticised the decision to release the Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.

Iain Gray said:

"If I was First Minister, Megrahi would not be going back to Libya. The decision to release him is wrong.

"He was convicted of the worst terrorist atrocity in our history, the mass murder of 270 people.

"While one can have sympathy for the family of a gravely ill prisoner, on balance our duty is to honour and respect the victims of Lockerbie and have compassion for them.

"The SNP’s handling of this case has let down Scotland. The cynical manner in which this decision has been spun out over the last month with a series of leaks, briefings and the Justice Secretary’s ill-advised visit to Greenock Prison was not fitting behaviour by a Scottish government.

"Kenny MacAskill’s conduct has damaged the Scottish Justice system and, in turn, Scotland’s international reputation.

"The First Minister Alex Salmond has also shown a lack of leadership as he hid away from this issue as it was falling apart.

"This whole sorry affair shows the SNP as unfit when it comes to the tough decisions of government."

Iain Gray was backed by Richard Baker, Labour shadow Justice Secretary, who said:

"The case for an immediate recall of Parliament for an emergency statement is now undeniable. Kenny MacAskill’s handling of this issue has been utterly woeful and he now needs to answer to Parliament.

"His decision to visit a convicted murderer in prison has shown just how bad his judgement is and he needs to explain himself.

"The Scottish public and the families of the victims need to hear directly from Mr MacAskill why he arrived at this decision and why he mishandled the whole affair."

20 August 2009