back to the top story, the return to libya of the lockerbie bomb mark, abdelbaset al- megrahi. sen back last night to a hero's welcome in tripoli. the libyans say they will produce no evidence to show al- megrahi is innocent, as always claimed. let us speak to our correspondent in the capital. do you think the libyans care about this adverse reaction to all of the reception is taking place? getting a harsh reaction from the united kingdom and the united states? >> i think they do, in all honesty. we have been here for four days. we have been carefully marshaled by the government minders. not -- we were not allowed to speak to anyone on the run-up to the release. since then, despite the jubilant scenes result of the airport last night and the party in the capital, we haven't had that sense of triumph from government ministers. we still have not had a statement from colonel khadafy himself. i think the last thing they want and the runoff of the budget run-up to the 40th anniversary of the revolution, -- is this international condemnation which might overshadow the country's visit

>> the decision on whether abdelbaset ali al-megrahi is released comes down to one man, the scottish justice secretary. he is under intense pressure from all sides. american senators phil very strongly that abdelbaset ali al- megrahi should remain in prison and perhaps die in prison. he does have terminal prostate cancer. his defense team said it was a very serious form of prostate cancer. they said abdelbaset ali al- megrahi's absolute priority was to spend what time he has left with his family. he is the only man ever convicted of britain's worst terrorist atrocity. his decision today to drop his appeal by no means clears the deck for him to return to libya. the justice secretary is expected to make a decision later in the week. today's decision leaves many british relatives very disappointed. there were hoping for more answers to the many questions they still have over what happened 20 years ago. they say this is a very sad day and the worst possible decision for their families. >> thank you for that update. this is world today -- this is "world news" today. coming up -- celebratin

is abdelbaset ali al megrahi's own lawyer considers mr. bdelbaset ali al megrahi would receive better treatment than in scotland than libia. presiding officer, compassion and justice would have been better served than by convicted terrorists as a hero in libia to a backdrop. [gavel] >> equally disturbing is the prime minister gore can brow his decision was significant implication of policy and trade. so whap jot efforts are now being untaken by gordon brown to limit the damage done to our countries international representation and to our economy. >> of course we have seen that i thk the suggestion that we could have gone to hospice is ludicrous. people go there to obtai the last few moments to suggest that we could have sent to any hospice i scotland where others would have seen turned into that. [applause] >> this was a suggest that he could have gone to the house in newton. we took advice from the our largest police authority. 14 officers to be with him in the house. to hospice, we didn't see a problem for those entitled to die in peace.

abdelbaset ali al-megrahi served prison time for each of the dead. this man lost his daughter and he wants al-megrahi to be released. >> i don't believe he is guilty as charged. there are other people have doubts about this. it would be cruel to keep the man in prison to die away from his family and his country. >> the families of many of the american relatives have reacted very differently. >> you don't allow someone who has murdered -- you know, premeditated murder of over 200 people, you let them walk away. that is not just and not fair. >> pan am flight 103 was on route from london to new york. the bomb toward it apart 5 miles above lockerbie. after years of resistance, libya agreed to release some suspects for trial. a court was convened in the netherlands. three judges found al-megrahi guilty. his co accused was acquitted. as the law stands, a prisoner transfer cannot take place while the legal process is ongoing. the appeal is still going on. release on compassionate grounds would allow him to continue his appeal. the scottish justice minister

abdelbaset ali al-megrahi was freed early from a scottish jail on compassionate grounds. they are denying the real reason was to smooth commercial relations with libya. we have more. >> outrage. a hero's welcome. >> the end of abdelbaset ali al- megrahi's journey, but only the beginning of the row would follow. the reception he received sparked an angry reaction in the united states. the white house said it was sending out the wrong message. >> i think the images that we saw in libya yesterday were outrageous and disgusting. we continue to express our condolences to the families who lost loved ones as a result of this terrorist murder. >> the libyans have been warned. within an hour of the plane leaving last, a letter was delivered from gordon brown. in it, the prime minister asked libyans to act with "sensitivity." he said it must be seen as a low-key return. clearly the message was confused or ignored. libyan save the letter only concerned economic exchange and bilateral relations. so far, there has been no sense of triumph from government ministers. in 11 days time, he

but did that excitement influence the decision to release abdelbaset al. megrahi, the man convicted of the lockerbie bombing. scottish and british governments say, absolutely not. but al megrahi's f and new business opportunities have always been part of bilateral negotiations. 2007, colonel gadhafi's regime sought to re-enter the international community after three decades of sanctions and the then british prime minister tony blair offered a hand. they signed a number of agreements. making a prison transfer deal, a massive oil contract involving bp followed immediately. this is a so-called package deal? >> a so-called deal in the desert, two things emerged. one was a huge trunch of opportunity in the libyan oil industry for a very well-known international oil company. and the quid pro quo perhaps was the agreement that megrahi would be returned, i'm speculating when i say that, but it does strain common sense a little to believe that there was no connection between the two. >> reporter: the libyans wanted al megrahi to return home and a memorandum on priso

al-megrahi served just ov 11 days for each murder. w have this rert from glasgow. >> this is the moment abdelbaset ali mohmet al-megrahi left british soilhis papers sayin he was leased due to compassionate grounds or in his has as he walked slowly up the steps to the airane. he served 10 years of a sentence. the decion to release d was made by the justicsecretary. this was pnted out just how ha the decision was to make. >> our juste syst demands that judgment be imposed but compsion be available. iis dictated that juice be servedut mercy be shown. >> the had been years of from an angry crowd as the liby lefprison under police esco -- there had been jrs. was the man cvicted of britain's wot terrorist attack. earlier this week, al-megrahi 4 foto the opportunity to finallclear his name, but in a letter released today, he ferred to his innocence. he sd, "i have been separate from my family aa resul of what i consider to be an unju decision. iave to try to bear th with a degree equi." during it interview with a u.s. station,preside obama warned libya not to give al-megrahi a her's welcome. >> we ha been in contact with the scottish goverent,

abdelbaset ali al-megrahi has abandoned his appeal against conviction. he was said to be released on compassionate grounds. >> like liquid fire pouring from the sky, that is the way this man describes the way that the flight plunged to the ground. this was the biggest act of terrorism in british history, the mass murder of 270 people. now come reports say that the man convicted of this might be freed. abdelbaset ali al-megrahi has terminal cancer and he could be released on compassionate grounds by the end of next week. now he is to drop an appeal against his conviction. >> very appalled and very angry about what is happening. his idea was to apply for compassionate release. the appeal does not have to be dropped. i am quite taken aback by this change. >> it comes more than two decades after a bomb tore the plane apart over the skies of lockerbie. after years of resistance, the government of libya agreed to release two suspects. al-megrahi was found guilty. the families of those killed are expressing horror at the potential for al-megrahi being released.

abdelbaset ali al megrahi, convicted in 2001 for the lockerbie bombing, now dying of prostate cancer, be released on compassionate terms and be allowed to return to libya to die. that was my decision, and i will answer questions. >> thank you, and i will now take questions of issues raised on this statement. it would be helpful if members who ask question push their buttons now. >> thank you, and can i thank the justice for making a statement and being available in advance. last week the scottish decision made a wrong decision, the scottish system has compassion running through it, and that's why we have no death penalty and appeal and parole and that's why prisoners can apply for compassionate release. and that compassion by justice and the rights of victims and the right of society. and that's why the final judgment in this case was rightly the ministers. he had a requirement to consider an application, but not a duty to grant it. i acknowledge it was a difficult decision. but does he understand how much that decision has angered the majority of scotland. does he understand how asha

blew up over lockerbie scotland in 1988, killing 214 people former libyan intelligence officer abdelbaset al megrahi is dying of prostate cancer and is expected to be released on compassionate grounds 37 >>> now back to iraq. in baghdad today a blast killed two people that follows six major bombings yesterday, pushing the total to more than 100 dead and 500 wounded in just 24 hours. it's the worst violence since forces withdrew from iraqi cities. >>> and turning to something much closer to home, especially those of us at cbs news, we're remembering don hewitt, a man with a vision of what tv news could be and a producer who made it happen. he died of pancreatic cancer yesterday at his home on long island east of new york city. don hewitt was 86 years old. drew levin has his story. >> reporter: when it came to broadcast journalism, don hewitt was the pioneer, helping to create the blueprint for television news. a career that can be described as illustrious began in 1948. that's when he became the director of the first cbs evening news show. he directed many other programs, including edward r.

terminally ill, abdelbaset ali al-megrahi was freed on compassionate grounds. the government is rejecting suggestions the real reason was to smooth commercial relations with libya. christian frazier reports from tripoli. >> this is certainly how libya wanted this trade -- but how much damage to this celebration of al-megrahi due to the relationship with the outside world? he was welcomed home like a decorated soldier. scottish plaids weighed in jubilation. today, the government kept us away from his family, but we did speak to his brother in law. >> we are saddened by the tragedy of lockerbie and the people who lost their children. but i assure you -- he is innocent. if you could see him now, you would realize it is impossible he could do it. >> that is not how the british government sees it. they warned libyans within an hour of the plane taking off. a letter arrived from downing street. in that, gordon brown asked the libyans to act with "sensitivity." he said the british government expected a low-key return. clearly the message was confused or ignored. state

for the libyan manonvicted of the 1988 bombing of a pan am jetler over lockerbie, that's bause abdelbaset alahi, who wasonvicted ten years later, has terminal cancer. the ssibility of an eay release for al megra has divided some relatives of thse who died. >> there was no compassionhown for the 270 victms who were murder, and so i think we have shown h moreompassion than he showed his victs. >> i should very delighted if he does go me to h familyo die. and i'm very pleased to hear they are encouraging orlts to use compassionaterelease. >> after al megrahi's conviction, they denounced rrorism and libya's relaons with the wesstarted to impre. >>>ecretary of state hilly clinton was in liberia today as she neared the end ofer 11-d sit to africa. e west african natio found by freed american slaves i led by the continent's first democraticly elected fale president. antoday clinton d strong praise for ellen johnson-sirleaf and he accomplishments. despite a recent apology for johnsosirleaf for givi an example to crles taylor, an inmiliar lus waord and later liberia'president. tayl liberia's leader a

but first, british prime mister gordon brown, he spoke out for t first time today abt abdelbaset al. megrahi and s hoecoming. >> myhoughts are with the oughtings of the victims. and i was both angry d i was repulsed by the eception that a convicd bomber guilty of a huge terrorist cme turned a return to libya. and that brings tous tonights "lead foc." our britishpartner, itn's been looking britain's relatiship with libbia, it business intert there, leading up to last wee's decision to release the lockerb bomber. as you'll see in johnsparks' report, one isleft with the impression tt at the very least, al megrahi release can't hurt the retionship. >> repter: the analysts call it real polit eke,oing practical deals the t of give and take. the uk a libya have been doing this for abo a decade. t how influential a commercial considerations where it is business fit in this complex mi libya is an exciting new stination for british business but did that extement influenc the decision to releeabdelbaset al. megrahi, the man convicted of the lockerbie bombing. scottish and british government say

abdelbaset ali al-megrahi issued a statement, including his sympathy for the unimaginable loss of family members and again pleaded his innocence. the white house condemned the decision. 2/3 of the lockerbie victims were american. >> the first glimpse abdelbaset ali al-megrahi about to leave the scottish jail. the cheers from a waiting crowds awaited him, now a free man, but under police escort. a convoy of vehicles escorting him to glasgow airport, the security tight. was convicted of the mass murder of 270 people. -- megrahi was convicted of the mass murder of 270 people. independent medical a vice is that he does not have long to live. >> no compassion was shown by him to them. that alone is not a reason for us to deny compassion to him and his family in his final days. our justice system demands that judgment be imposed but compassion be available. our beliefs dictate that justice be served but mercy be shown. >> it is more than 20 years since pan am flight 103 exploded over lockerbie. it was the longest night of the year, and dawn revealed to the horror -- holds obliterated by debris

bomber abdelbaset al megrahi. released him on compassionate grounds. he reportedly has term nat prostate cancer. the libertarian skaecretary of state said that hs in his final days. invited to megrahi's hospital room but said he is too stoic answer any questions. megrahi is the only person convicted in the deadly bombing of the flight pan am. >>> plus, how a little yoga could help you improve your diet.he lllllllll)l),% >>> and welcome back to "news4" at 4:00. i'm meteorologist chuck bell. a touch of fog out there today. grazing southern maryland and portions of the lower eastern shore. couple of sprinkles out near ra hobea beach and dover, delaware as well. all of that will stay away from us over the next couple hours. dry eastern in western washington. temperatures across the area are delightful out there. 70 degrees at andrews air force base. 74 in spring feel and dale city. 73 in mannassas, virginia. overnight the clouds out there are gradually work their way away from the area. clear skies will lead to a couple of scattered 40. 49 degrees in charl

abdelbaset al megrahi is the only person convicted the bombing of the flight panam103. jack straw fought to keep megrahi's name off of list to prisoners who might be transferred to libya. negotiations for a major oil deal were stalled at the time. strawed back down. the deal went through. he says the matter is academic now since megrahi was freed on compassionate grounds. megrahi report lead has terminal prostate cancer. he returned to libya ten days ago. yesterday a british tv crew was invited into his hospital room but they were told he is too sick to answer questions. >>> coming up on our broadcast students in montgomery county heading back to school today. new policies here in year. >>> walt disney family's getting larger. a major deal for the company. >>> veronica is back with the check ofoor recast >>> woke up to a touch of fall out there, veronica. >> you like it? >> i do. >> it's a mood improvement. >> it is. here we are, too, with all of the kids back in school now. going to stay that cool weather for them as they get through the first week. no troubles weather

. >>> britain says it has nothing to do with the release of convicted lockerbie bomber, abdelbaset al megrahi. this after leaders publicly thanked british leaders yesterday. director robert muller says it, quote, gives comfort to terrorists. . >>> a new study shows that exercise a little bit can help you live longer. sedentary lifestyles was twice as likely to die in the next nine years than those that got moderate activity a two times a week. >>> an inventor in washington state has come up with winkers. jeans with ice painted on the back, that wink when you walk. because nothing says classy like that. >> that's fantastic. >> guess how much they cost. upwards of $600. isn't that crazy? >> that's completely outrageous. >> i need to call more attention to my dimpley derriere. >> i'm avoiding eye contact. >>> good morning. good morning both of you. let's look at the radar and show you what's happening off the east coast. in the seekt, it's rain not associated with bill. the further north you go, you can see outer rain bands associated with bill, affecting the coastal areas of massachuset

abdelbaset ali al megrahi is the only man convicted of carrying out this atrocity. inquiries into the lockerbie bombing took detectives halfway around the world. ultimately, they came up with an investigative jigsaw that had megrahi as its centerpiece. investigators found a piece of electronic circuit board which had been used to detonate the bomb. it was found tucked inside the collar of the shirt wrapped around the device. the shirt had been bought here at a clothes shop in malta. the shop owner picked out megrahi as the buyer. three years after the bombing, megrahi was indicted with a second libyan. the pair were accused of placing a suitcase bomb on board a plane in malta, which was later transferred to pan am flight 103. its impact in the skies over lockerbie was recreated by accident investigators. were the two suspects acting under direct orders from you? >> reporter: for years, libya's leader colonel gadhafi laughed off accusations of his country's involvement. the two suspects remained in libya out of the prosecutors' release. but as gadhafi sought to repai

scotland's justice officials, blasting their decision to release abdelbaset al megrahi. he says it gives, quote, comfort to terrorists. he was released thursday by scottish authorities on compassionate grounds because he's dying of cancer. >>> government health officials are preparing for a massive swine flu vaccine and campaign this fall, they plan to vaccinate at least half the country. world health organization is warning that a second wave of the swine flu pandemic could hit later this year during the traditional flu season. >>> with cash for clunkers about to come to a screeching halt, customers are swarming dealerships, hoping to get a last-minute deal on those new cars. $3 billion program ends tomorrow night when transportation officials say the popular program will have burned through the alotted funds. >>> finally, san diego dog is truly worthy of his name, tighten. this great dane has taken a shot at the guinness book of world records as the tallest living canine. he is 3 1/2 feet tall, taller than the previous record holder, his name is gibson, also a great da

abdelbaset i al-megrahi may be releed. >> ty are appalled.ly for compassionate rease, a the appeal ds not have to be droppe for compaionately, so i am que taken aback by ts change. >> it comes mor than two çdecades afterç bomb tore the airplane apart in the skies over lockerbie. after years, libya agreed to lease two suspects for trial in april 1998. scottish court was convenedn the therlands,and in january 2001, two judg found merahi guiy. others, like jam,hose daughter wa kild,believes he should never have bn found guilty. the scottish governmtnsists theyave not put pressure on megrahi to drop hiappeal, but they thought it would help bring new information to life. it remains unsolved crime. bbc news. >> ok, and broken. >> see the nenfold. go to bbc news/news for "bbc world news" online. it is easy. clichere to collect the one- nute news story. you can read the news heaines, gethe top stories fm around the globe, and clicko play video reports. discover morabout the subjects that really interest you and find t whatssues the world is talking

politics lined up to condemn the early release of thean convicted of the lockerbie bombing, abdelbaset ali al megri. >> convictedn act of ungross justice re. shared no compahis victims and give a compassionate release was wrong. >> rorter: the decision by the scottish authorities to release ali al megrahi on compassionate grounds, t former libyan agent, has terminal ncer, has perplexed the erican president. he clled it highly objectionable and u.s. policians, too, the country's top soldier also waded into e ul. >> thiis obviously a political decision which is outf my lane. but just personal ias appalled fwlie cision. >> reporr: it follow little the unprecedented intervenon byhe head of the fbi, robert mueller, who stated in a tter that the sottish governnt's decision made a mocke of the law and effeively rewards a terrorist. >> he may live sooner, he may live long. i can only ba mydecisionn the medical advice i have before . >> reporter: m mccaskill says he followed the very leer of scott's w, but clearly stunned by t criticism, the scottish government source td this program that the minister

libya only approved the oil deal avalon done dropped its objection to abdelbaset al megrahi's release. 189 americans died when the pan am flight was brought down in 1988. >> many of us suspected that there was this quid pro quo. this little this morning gives the first factual evidence that that possibly happened. >> if this is the truth and there's no nonsense about the evidence, then we have to do something. >> libya's leader was supposed to stay in new jersey during an upcoming visit to the u.n. some people are telling him, uh-uh, stay away. >>> so, it looks like we're getting a profit on part of that investment. jennifer westhoven is here with more. a lot of people thought this was going to be money down the drain. there it goes. >> yeah. and some of it might be. the fact that we're seeing some of the money coming back with profits, that is good news in a bad economy. that is a good sign. y you, the taxpayers, made a $4 billion profit on the bailout so far. to some of the biggest banks, according to this morning's "new york times," it talks about morgan stanley and goldman sachs,

. >>> this morning lawyers for lockerbie bomber abdelbaset al mag ra hi is abandoning his former appealring from cancer. >>> also from britain, an update on the $64 million jewel heist last week in london. turns out the two robbers wore elaborate disguises seemingly out of the movies. cbs news correspondent sheila macvicar has more. >> reporter: it seems so brazen, two thieves with no apparent disguise walking into the jewellers and making off it $65 million worth of diamonds. but an unwitting makeup artist now in protective custody> has told police he spent four hours transforming the men. think "mission impossible 2" in the moment when tom cruise turns into the villainous doug ray scott. >> four hours is about the time it would take to make someone look different realistically. >> reporter: using latex makeup and a wig, it took two hours to turn this girl into a guy. makeup so deftly done that the security guards standing at the door up close found nothing wrong. sheila macvicar, cbs news, london. >>> the latest government figures show no inflation. the consumer price index was unchan

abdelbaset ali mohmed al megrahi had been serving a life sentence for the 1988 bombing of flight 103ver lockerbie, scotland, in which 270 people were killed. >>> to afghanistan where votes from thursday's presidential election are still being counted. main challengers, hamid karzai, says he has proof the election was rigged. nbc news chief correspondent richard engel live in kabul. what can you tellous this front, the claim that the election has been rigged? >> reporter: not so much it was outright rigged but there was massive election fraud. abdullah abdullah said today he has evidence from his observers, from people who support his campaign, that has been gathered around the country, saying that there was a great deal of voter intimidation. and some ballot box stuffing when afghans went to the polls last thursday. the ballots are still being counted and according to the schedule that has been released by the election commission, some preliminary results should be released tuesday but when i spoke after the statements by abdullah abdullah to an international election observer and im

abdelbaset al megrahi is dying of prostate cancer.s way home >>> a sign of improving relations between the u.s. and north korea. yesterday two north korean diplomats met with new mexico governor bill richardson in santa fe. today they'll get a briefing about sustainable renewable energy programs for their nation. >>> president obama takes his campaign for healthcare reform to talk radio today. he'll be interviewed at the white house by conservative radio show host michael smerkonish. >>> and in san francisco, lombard street became cannedlyland. it was covered with 41 square colored tiles to match the sequence in the popular board game. it was to celebrate candyland's 60th birthday. it is now 8:35. time to go back outside to dave price with our final check of the weather. >> you know what, we're going to continue "let's make a deal" now. this lovely clam shell woman, who was here yesterday also. you got $20 from wayne brady. you can either trade that $20 for what's inside this man's nose or for what's in my pocket. do you want to do th

yesterday, abdelbaset ali al- megrahi returned to libya, a free man accompanied by the son of moammar khadafy. a different scene in the united states as tears and anger flowed as outraged family members of the victim heard the news. he is the only western convicted in the lockerbie bombing over scotland more than two decades ago. he has terminal koonceer and scotland prison officials released him on what they called compassionate grounds. but one victim's mother said he had no come path for the people he killed. >> i am a write are and there aren't enough adjectives in the english language to tell you how horrified and displayed i was that they came to this conclusion. >> in libya, he is seen as an innocent accept goat that the west used to turn libya into a pariah. >>> we have a look at what is the movies this weekend. brad pitt is back at the box office. also some kid friendly fare and a whole lot of buzz about a trailer you might want to check out. stay with us. we're coming back. (announcer) it's time to raise the bar with the full flavor of aft mayo with olive oil. with half the

du abdelbaset ali mohmed al megrahi was freed from a prison because he is dying of cancer. >> we're apaulides at the manner in which al mm magrahi was received. >> the images we saw were outrageous and disgust snoog today robert mueller wrote a scathing letter to the scott irish justice secretary who let magrahi go. he writes -- your decision gives comfort to terrorists around the world. also today, new york senator shuck k450u78er asked for a u.n. resolution against libya. >> it's clear that the libyan government's love affair with terrorism hasn't ended yet, we can't let them back into the international community until it does. >> reporter: there is now wide president suspicion that access to the libyan oil reserves way was behind the release. here's a photo of al magrahi and gado callfy's son. >> we always put you on the table. >> reporter: it's an accusation the british government strongly denies. >> it's not only wrong, it's completely implausible and actually quite offensive. >> reporter: to deflect criticism today, 10 downing street released a letter written by prime minister gordon br

abdelbaset ali mohmet al- megrahi covered his face as he flew from scotland to his home of libya.he was found guilty in 2001 of the bombing that killed all of the people on board the airplane, including many american college students and 11 people on the ground. the pan am flight was scheduled to fly from london to new york, but it had not even reached the ocean when a bomb went off over lockerbie. he served just eight years in jently diagnosed himbu)u$ prostate cancer. they say he has only months to live, and even as scottish prosecutors acknowledged that he never showed mercy to his victims, and they decided to show mercy to him, releasing him on so-called compassionate grounds families of those killed took -- compassionate grounds. families of those killed took exception to that. >> the man murdered 20070 people. >> personally, i thought compassion came the moment after somebody said it "forgive me -- somebody said "forgive me," and i never heard those words -- the man murdered 20070 people. >> where is our spine -- 270 people. >> the idea that he is able to go home and die wit

abdelbaset ali mohmed al megrahi was the only person convicted in the 1983 bombing over lockerby scotland. one man is taking responsibility for it, calling it an act of compassion for a man who's said to be dying of prostate cancer. and joining us now from scotland, the scotland justice secretary kenny mccaskill. did he kill 270 people? >> yes, he was convicted by a scottish court. >> is it normal procedure in scotland, that someone, a convicted mass murder who gets cancer is free to go home to his wife and family. >> thankfully in scotland we don't have many convicted mass murderers and this crime devastated our country as it did people in the united states and elsewhere. >> is there any precedent in scotland, where a mass murder, someone who killed 270 people in cold blood has been freed to go home to his wife and family because he's suffering from canner? >> this crime is unprecedented in our small country. it's actually the worst atrocity, terrorist atrocity ever perpetrated anywhere within the united kingdom so it's a circumstance that has never happened before and i hope that it's a

the man known as the lockerbie bombing, abdelbaset ali mohmet al-megrahi, the only man convicted of the lockerbie bombing, killing 270 people, many of them americans. he spent eight years behind bars after getting a life sentence. he has prostate cancer, and scott and released him on compassionate grounds. libya has been playing down his release, but that reception at the airport upset people, including president obama. he responded to a question at the white house today. listen. >> thanks very much. >> what about the heroes welcome in libya, sir? >> do you consider to be a terrorist state? >> i think it was highly objectionable. jon: "highly objectionable" is what the president says. they say they will plan a protest when muammar qaddafi visits the united nations next month. to find out what you think about the release of the lockerbie bombing, we first asked you yesterday on our website, and we have received quite a response. some 66,000 of you sent your emails. do you agree with the release of al-megrahi? 96% of you say no. the guy should have died in prison. for more detailed result

abdelbaset ali mohmed al megrahi was welcomed as a hero in his native libya when he was freed on, quote, compassionate grounds. he has terminal cancer, but director mueller isn't working up much compassion calling it a mockery of the rule of law. he wrote in a letter to the justice secretary -- meanwhile former british tony blair denies claims a deal was cut with libya for al megrahi's release. >> let me just make one thing absolutely clear. the libyans were raising the case with megrahi all along, not just me, but everybody. it was a major national concern for them. as i used to say to them, i don't have the power to release this meg gr megrahi and indeed it was a release that was taken place on the compassionate grounds which didn't exist a few years back. so of course the libyans were always raising this issue, but we made it clear the only way this could be dealt with was through the proper are procedures. >> moammar gado callfy's son said megrahi's release was on the negotiating table in a contract for oil and gas. that has created outrage here in the united states. >>> six deadly

abdelbaset ali mohmed al megrahi was released on compassionate grounds.eller isn't working up much compassion. he calls al meg are here's release -- your action makes a mockery of the grief of the families who lost their own on december 21, 1988. you could not have spent much time with the families, certainly not as much time as others involved in the investigation and prosecution. where, i ask, is the judge? a deal was cut with libya for al m megrahi's release. >> as i used to say to them, i don't have the power to release mr. megrahi, and the release that has taken place is a decision by the scottish executive, which has taken place on the compassionate grounds and those compassionate grounds didn't even exist a few years back. the court was absolutely right, but we made it clear, the only way this could be dealt with was through the proper procedures. >> and libyan leader muammar khaddafi's support for the release has gained outrage. >>> a terrorist was acquitted of illegally possessing and transporting explosives. the case pitted national security aga

not surprisingly many people are angry about scotland's decision to release the libyan bomber abdelbaset al. and that is especially true of the victim's families, of course. one brother said that neither the u.s. nor britain did enough to stop al megrahi's release. >> well, it is a wound torn open because of the release, and today, it is salt poured into wound making it worse. i have to say that what bothers me the most is that it is if the obama administration and the brown administration committed gross negligence. now they're really upset that this guy is back in libya. they should have stopped it before then. >> and they could have. >> and what does that say about how we approach terrorism going forward? what a terrible irony. we have prisoners in guantanamo who have not been convicted of anything, and this guy was convicted of murdering 270 people, and we sent him home. >> al megrahi has prostate cancer and doctors say he has only three months to live. libya compensated victims' families in a $2.7 billion deal. >>> back to the top story, hurricane bill is moving up the east coast this

that is him, abdelbaset ali al- megrahi. convicted in the bombing that killed 270 people. he has terminal cancer. he wants to be released for compassionate reasons so he can go back possibly to libya. the government has made a decision, but they will not announce the decision until tomorrow. there's also break the news out of alaska about an earthquake. >> take a look. we just got the release. this gives you an idea about the location. we're hearing good things about this. it is not too bad. it was about 36 miles deep. that is not that thdeep. it was outside of anchorage. they did feel some buildings shake. arnold reports of any real damage. -- there are no reports of any real damage. trace: 5.2 is the magnitude on the earthquake. it did not cause a great deal of damage or injuries. jamie: the fbi is joining the search for kristi cornwell. she has been missing for one week. she is 38. she is a former provision officer -- is a former probation officer. she was talking to her boyfriend on the phone. he says he heard a scuffle.

and the man you're looking at there is abdelbaset mohmed al megrahi. united states deeply regrets the decision and gibbs also said in that statement, again, on this day, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families who live every day with the loss of their loved ones. and again, this picture, this is an old picture, probably from the late '70s early '80s, i should say in 1988 from the late '80s, i should say, early '90s. but again, secretary of state hillary clinton made a particularly emotional case earlier this week noting that she used to represent families of victims of the disaster as a former senator from new york, and she also expressed her deep disappointment in the release of this man. so let's go now to scotland and our reporter who is on the ground there following this. and again, he's about to be released at any moment and you'll see it live here on cnn. live from scotland. what's going on? >> reporter: hi, don. well, in a moment, you're looking at pictures of greenock prison where we're expecting the only man ever convicted of the bomb

abdelbaset ali mohmed al megrahi now terminally ill with terminal cancer be released on compassionatee questions. >> so after a rather detailed, shall we say, explanation of his decision, kenny macatskill saying he will release al megrahi because upon examinations by doctors there in scotland, they assume he has about three months to live due to terminal cancer. what you saw earlier was he rejected a petition for a prisoner transfer and did say he would release him on compassionate grounds. bound to provoke a lot of discussion over the next few years. >> as he said in the moments before moments before that he showed no compassion -- he also says he believes he has less than three months to live. >> keeping in mind that he was convicted in 2001 of killing 270 people on board pan am flight 103, sentenced to 27 years. we'll expect a lot of discussion over this over the next few hours. >>> we're going to be speaking about health care costs with paul keckley, what is the cost of doing nothing? what is the cost of universal health care? it's 27 minutes past the hour. ♪ well i was shopping f