Today the world remembers the victims of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988, and expresses our deep alarm that the convicted perpetrator of this unspeakable crime has been allowed to go free.
I am deeply disappointed by the Scottish Executive's decision to release Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi, who was convicted of this crime and sentenced to life in prison in 2001. Instead of returning to Libya, he should be serving the remainder of his sentence in Scottish custody.
We continue to condemn this brutal, criminal act and stand steadfast in our commitment to international efforts to prevent terrorism and punish its perpetrators.
My deepest sympathies continue to be with the families of the 270 victims, including 189 Americans, who lost their loved ones as a result of this horrific crime.