The Scottish justice secretary has remained defiant in his decision to release the convicted Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds.
In an emergency session of the Scottish parliament Kenny MacAskill said he had followed due process to arrive at his decision.
'It was my decision, I stand by it, and I live with the consequences,' he told MSPs in Holyrood.
Despite describing the 1988 bombing that killed 270 people as a 'heinous crime', Mr MacAskill said he was left with no choice, and in the name of justice was forced to release convicted bomber Abdelbaset Ali al Megrahi, 57, last week. He added he had to show 'mercy', and thought most in Scotland would agree with his decision.
MSPs were recalled for an emergency session today for only the third time in their parliament's history to discuss the issue.
In questions following a statement made by Mr MacAskill, opposition MSPs said the decision had damaged international relations, and asked why Megrahi was not kept under house arrest in Scotland.
Gordon Brown also came under attack for his failure to comment publicly on the Lockerbie controversy, and for his failure to 'intervene'.
Mr MacAskill did admit he regretted that assurances were not upheld by the Libyan government regarding Megrahi's hero's welcome. Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds because he is suffering terminal cancer, despite serving just eight years of a life sentence for the murder of 270 people on a Pan Am flight in 1988.
There has been outrage from many at the scenes witnessed in Libya when Megrahi returned to what has been dubbed a hero's welcome. Victims' families have expressed anger at his release to return home despite being convicted of the UK's worst terrorist atrocity. Megrahi is suffering from terminal prostate cancer and has been given just months to live.
He returned to Libya on Thursday to crowds waving Scottish flags. Despite criticism from the US in particular, Mr MacAskill has said he was 'duty-bound' to release Megrahi, who has always denied the crime.
A website called boycottscotland.com has been set up, which urges US citizens to boycott the UK and refrain from buying 'British or Scottish products'.
In an emergency session of the Scottish parliament Kenny MacAskill said he had followed due process to arrive at his decision.
'It was my decision, I stand by it, and I live with the consequences,' he told MSPs in Holyrood.
Despite describing the 1988 bombing that killed 270 people as a 'heinous crime', Mr MacAskill said he was left with no choice, and in the name of justice was forced to release convicted bomber Abdelbaset Ali al Megrahi, 57, last week. He added he had to show 'mercy', and thought most in Scotland would agree with his decision.
MSPs were recalled for an emergency session today for only the third time in their parliament's history to discuss the issue.
In questions following a statement made by Mr MacAskill, opposition MSPs said the decision had damaged international relations, and asked why Megrahi was not kept under house arrest in Scotland.
Gordon Brown also came under attack for his failure to comment publicly on the Lockerbie controversy, and for his failure to 'intervene'.
Mr MacAskill did admit he regretted that assurances were not upheld by the Libyan government regarding Megrahi's hero's welcome. Megrahi was released on compassionate grounds because he is suffering terminal cancer, despite serving just eight years of a life sentence for the murder of 270 people on a Pan Am flight in 1988.
There has been outrage from many at the scenes witnessed in Libya when Megrahi returned to what has been dubbed a hero's welcome. Victims' families have expressed anger at his release to return home despite being convicted of the UK's worst terrorist atrocity. Megrahi is suffering from terminal prostate cancer and has been given just months to live.
He returned to Libya on Thursday to crowds waving Scottish flags. Despite criticism from the US in particular, Mr MacAskill has said he was 'duty-bound' to release Megrahi, who has always denied the crime.
A website called boycottscotland.com has been set up, which urges US citizens to boycott the UK and refrain from buying 'British or Scottish products'.
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