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Arab League welcomes Abdul Basit's release

Friday, August 21, 2009 CAIRO: The Arab League has welcomed the release of a terminally ill Libyan convicted over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, it was reported today."The Arab League welcomes the Scottish court decision to release (Abdel Baset al-) Megrahi, taking into consideration his serious health condition," assistant secretary-general Ahdmed Bin Hilli was quoted as saying.He said the decision came after lengthy Libyan diplomatic efforts. Bin Hilli voiced hope the release "would constitute a new page in the Lockerbie crisis and that Libya would receive compensation for its suffering during the years of ongoing sanctions as a result of this crisis". In 2003, Libya agreed to pay $US2.7 billion in compensation to Lockerbie relatives, paving the way for a thawing of relations with the West. Megrahi, the only person ever convicted over the Lockerbie bombing that killed 270 people, arrived home today just hours after being freed on compassionate grounds. The Libyan has a highly aggressive form of prostate cancer and medical experts give him only months to live.
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