London:
Scotland on Thursday freed the terminally-ill Libyan jailed for the 1988 Pan Am Lockerbie bombing on compassionate grounds despite fierce US opposition against releasing the man responsible for the death of 270 people in Britain's worst terrorist attack.
Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, 57, a terminal cancer patient, who was the only person convicted of blowing up the Pan Am flight 103 over Scottish town of Lockerbie on December 21, 1988 was freed on compassionate grounds, Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill announced.
Megrahi was serving a life sentence. But the move likely to cause outrage in the United States, MacAskill said Megrahi would now be released early from prison because of his worsening medical condition.
He said Megrahi "now faces justice from a higher power ... he is going to die".
He had earlier rejected a separate application by Megrahi to serve the rest of his sentence in Libya.
Megrahi is now expected to fly home to Libya to rejoin his family, the Scotsman newspaper said in its report.
In a statement that lasted more than 20 minutes MacAskill said Megrahi had shown no compassion to his victims, but added: "That alone is not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days."
MacAskill said: "I am conscious there are deeply held feelings and that many will disagree whatever my decision. However, a decision has to be made."
The US President Barack Obama regretted the decision of Scotland to release of a Libyan terrorist involved in the bombing of Pan-Am Flight 103 that killed 270 people including 189 Americans.
The Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, expressed her deep disappointment. "The United States deeply regrets the decision by the Scottish Executive to release Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi," Obama said.
Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill further said, "Scotland will forever remember the crime that has been perpetrated against our people and those from many other lands, the pain and suffering will remain forever.
"Some hurt can never heal, some scars can never fade. Those who have been bereaved cannot be expected to forget, let alone forgive. Their pain runs deep and the wounds remain."
Megrahi was informed of the decision at 1pm at Greenock prison. MacAskill added: "On July 24 2009, I received an application from Mr Al Megrahi for compassionate release.
Megrahi was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in September 2008. "In order to consider the application I was provided with reports and recommendations," he added.
"My decision is in accordance with all the advice given to me. It is the opinion of the Scottish Prison Service doctors who have dealt with him prior to, during and following the diagnosis of prostate cancer and having seen him during each of these stages, that his clinical condition has declined significantly."