Demand grows for Lockerbie inquiry

Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, stricken by terminal cancer, was not expected to survive three months.

Today he remains alive back home in Tripoli, Libya, but the man who freed Megrahi, Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, stands by his decision.

He said: "I authorised it, I did so in good faith and I believe that everyone who's been involved in this has also acted in good faith.

"It was my responsibility and I stand by my actions."

The release was thrown firmly back into the international spotlight as the one-year anniversary approaches after the US Senate foreign relations committee launched an inquiry.

Of the 270 people who died when Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up in December 1988, 189 were Americans. US families were among the most vocal critics of the decision.

Bob Monetti, whose son Rick, 20, died in the tragedy, said: "Up until last August, the Scots were the heroes in the piece.

"The Scottish police were wonderful, the Scottish prosecution were great, the Scottish people were great and now this has spoilt the relationship we have with the Scots."

For the British families, Pamela Dix, whose brother Peter was among the dead, said some wrote to Prime Minister David Cameron asking him to instigate a full, independent inquiry into the bombing.

"I think the situation around Megrahi demonstrates to the UK government, to Mr Cameron in particular that this matter remains unresolved and that until it is resolved, the families will be clamouring loud for action and information," she said.

Meanwhile, a group seeking the "truth" over the conviction of the Lockerbie bomber is using the one-year anniversary of his release to demand a fresh review of the evidence.

Pressure group Justice for Megrahi is leading calls for a public inquiry into the affair, because his release effectively stopped an appeal taking place that would have investigated the evidence surrounding the Libyan's conviction.

They argue he was a convenient scapegoat and that his release effectively prevented an examination of what they claim was dubious evidence that has let the real bombers escape justice.

One member Robert Forrester, wrote: "Following Megrahi's return home, there is no vehicle being used to re-examine responsibly the evidence that lead to the conviction. I'm talking here as a relative. What we want is the truth: who murdered our families?"

The group, which earlier wrote to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, has now sent an open letter to scores of influential people, including US senators, British politicians and those in the media and legal system.

Mr Cameron has said the release was wrong but said it was one for the Scottish Government to make.

After nine months, Megrahi has lived longer than any murderer granted compassionate release from jail in Scotland.

This intensified the question marks surrounding the medical evidence on which Mr MacAskill based his decision.

Many critics, including Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie, said the past year has left "question marks about the integrity" of the justice system in Scotland.

She added: "We know that for compassionate grounds to apply we must have compelling medical evidence.

"We've never seen that medical evidence, we now know from the prison doctor that the cancer experts were not absolute in their view that Mr Megrahi only had three months to live, so there is a lot of confusion here which the SNP Government has allowed to fester and, frankly, we need all that doubt dispelled."

Scottish Labour justice spokesman James Kelly said it is clear the decision was "flawed".