Report: Qaddafi Ordered The Lockerbie Bombing

Libyan minister who has rebelled against dictator Muammar Qaddafi over the latter's brutal assault on protesters has alleged that Qaddafi personally ordered the Lockerbie bombing. Former Justice Minister Mustafa Mohamed Abud Al Jeleil made his claim Wednesday in an interview with the Swedish newspaper Expressen.

Al Jeleil said he has proof that Qaddafi “gave the order for Lockerbie.” The report did not specify the evidence Jeleil claims to hold.

The 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie killed 270 people. Libyan man Abdel Basset al-Megrahi was convicted in the attack.

Megrahi was released in 2009 for health reasons after doctors said he had just three months to live, but has since far outlived their predictions. According to Jeleil, Qaddafi worked hard to obtain Megrahi's release. “He did everything in his power to get Megrahi back from Scotland,” said Jeleil, who stated that Qaddafi was acting in order to conceal his own role the deadly attack.

“He [Qaddafi] ordered Megrahi to do it,” Jeleil said.

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