Pan Am Flight 103 bomber released from prison

The White House says the United States “deeply regrets” Scotland’s decision to release the Libyan man convicted of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 that killed 270 people.
   
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Thursday the United States had repeatedly asked Scotland to keep Abdel Baset al-Megrahi in custody. Gibbs said: “On this day, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families who live every day with the loss of their loved ones.“
   
Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said the order to release al-Megrahi grew out of the convicted bomber’s deteriorating health. He has prostate cancer and is not expected to live much
longer.
   
He had served only eight years of a life sentence in Scotland for the December 21, 1988, bombing over the town of Lockerbie.