mr. macaskill regrets about this decision and how it's reached?> cabinet secretary. >> i wrote that it was my decision and mine alone. and that's what i said full out, and i said that mr. megrahi should not of compassion or the sensitivity when he was shown compassion by us. but i retalate that i stand by the values we have. i did meet with mr. megrahi, and i did not put pressure on him to drop the appeal. it was his decision alone, that was clear to him and his agents and throughout. the decision i made was on two criteria, first of all the prisoner transfer application, and you are wrong, to say it would be ruled out on appeals. and it was by the agents of matters that would be prudeified, and i went through the matters of the advice, and that was a matter made clear by the u.k. government. i followed the matters of due process laid by the laws of scotland as we laid down as a government, and i applied those that i am required to do, it included the work of the government, the social work staff and the parole board. and each of them recommended

mr. macaskill need not visit mr. megrahi in prison. how many prisoners can have a justice visit them in their cell. and doesn't this conduct mean that no prisoner no matter the crime, will have a request turned down again? this has caused the split of scotland and next week colonel can breed this discussion. and the fine redeeming four-year term of government will be ruined by many for years to come. >> from this parliament and by the providing officer. and i say to you mr. scott, it's my decision and mine alone. i stand by it and i will live with the consequences. no, i dontspeak to the proud, that would be inappropriate, and it would be wrong for me to approach them and therefore i didn't. and in terms of paper and process, we are looking to release as much as we can. and to make sure that those who have written and cooperated and those who have given evidence, have the courtesy to say if they want their names released. but we will seek to provide those papers. and can i say that i appreciate you as leader of the democrats, and can i

mr. macaskill, what do you say to someone like mrs.hter and thinks about her every single day? >> well, i said all along, and i said in my statement, i'm very, very sorry for the grief. it started in the 21st of december 1998 when a heinous atrocity was perpetrated above one small town in scotland, taking the lives not just of americans but 11 people from our small land. nothing can assuage their grief. there's nothing that i can say to mrs. cohen or to anyone else that will ease the pain that they have on a day and daily basis. but in scotland, our justice system is not predicated on vengeance, but on bringing people to account. equally our value system is predicated on seeking to treat people in a matter that's merciful and compassionate, even if they do not show it to us as we would wish to show to them. so i'm so heartfelt sorry for mrs. cohen and every other victim, whether scottish, u.k., american or wherever else, but equally, we are adhering to the values that we have and are following the due process of law that we possess. >>

mr. macaskill repeated that he had fallen due process. he suggested that -- he said that suggestions that al-megrahi could have spent his final days in hospital work the crest. bbc news. >> at least 20 people have been killed in bombast -- bomb blasts on the buses. this happened in the south east of iraq. our correspondent from baghdad has the details. >> there were two separate attacks carried out on many buses carrying travelers on any road. but attacks were believed to have been carried out with several sticky bombs, magnetic devices attached to the underside of these buses and then detonated. at least 20 people were killed. 10 others were wounded. many of them were women and children. there have been many attacks on civilians in the past in this area. this is mainly a shiite area, but at the moment we do not know the exact details of the people who were hit. this attack has been carried out -- this is still less than a week since this massive series of bombings in baghdad in which almost 100 people were killed. many of them just outsi

mr. macaskill faced pressure from the u.s.ton expressed opposition to the release. >> i think it is absolutely wrong to release someone who has been in prison based on the evidence about his involvement in such a horrendous crime. >> reporter: since his conviction, megrahi has attempted to appeal the verdict. an argue that had been a huge miscarriage of justice. but only days ago, he propped the plea to be returned to libya under a prisoner transfer agreement. while he may spend his final days in his country, he will die without having cleared his name. >> sonia gallego, in london. thanks, sonia. >>> the mayor of milwaukee, is on the mend, after being attacked as he tried to intervene in a domestic dispute last weekend. he suffered a shattered hand, last two teeth and had deep cuts to his face in the incident. barrett said he did what any good citizen should have done when he heard a woman screaming. >> things got very, very ugly, very, very quickly. >> the 20-year-old suspect in the case is expected to be charged later today.

mr. macaskill d not need to visit. a written representation was all the that was required.how many prisons can elect to have a minister visit themven if they have lawyers perfectly able to write a letter. doesn't the comment mean that no prisoner, however bad the crime, will ever have to request that again. when the first minister discovered the country -- 40th anniversary celebrations. will the scottish governmen support a voteo restore our international reputation. other than the defining image will be ruined by many for many, many years to come. >> m secretary. >> the decision for this parliament are matters for the bureau and ultimaty for the presiding officer. i sai to you mr. stt as i said last, it was my decision, and my decision alone. i stand by it. of the matte, i didn't speak to the crowd. that would have been entirely inappropriate. as you should be aware, we do have the separation of powers. and in terms of peoples and pbocesse we are looking to do as much as we can. we need to make sure those feel written and cooperated. and to the bases of it being released h

mr. megrahi. any or none? and can i ask kenny macaskill confirm that his scottish compassion and bizarre reference of a higher power, whatever rule that may be. that every terminal prisoner, no matter how hainuous their crime, and does kenny macaskill now offer to meet every convicted criminal seeking release on compassionate grounds if they command it? and does he feel that many in this chamber and all of scotland his concerns about his conduct and credibility as justice? >> sorry, cabinet secretary, there should be no applause from the gallery, that's against the rule. >> it will be for each one of us to decide what our compassion is. and i believe when you take the oath, and you may have some consideration, because it's those comments that i scribe to and believe that are supported by the charts of scotland, you may disagree, and that's your right and entitlement. but i stand by my right of compassion and i believe it's supported by many. i am grateful to have the support of the first minister. but @@@@@)@@@ ,@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ >> if we are to get through all the members who wish to ask questions, they must m