Bomber in luxury behind bars
2003-11-21 09:31
Washington - Families of Pan Am flight 103 victims are expressing outrage over reports that a former Libyan intelligence officer who was convicted in the 1988 Pan Am bombing is serving his prison sentence in luxury.
State Department spokesperson Adam Ereli acknowledged on Thursday that the department has been contacted about the circumstances of the Libyan's incarceration.
"We have passed along these concerns to the appropriate officials in the United Kingdom for a response," he said.
A Scottish court convicted Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi of the bombing in 2001 and sentenced him to life imprisonment. A second Libyan was acquitted.
Pictures of Megrahi's surroundings at the Glasgow prison have appeared in the British media.
News of the World said the facilities rival those of a four-star hotel.
"They include his own kitchen and shower room, a sitting room and bedroom with en-suite toilet," the newspaper said.
The Daily Mail wrote that the conditions are in contrast to those experienced by the rest of the prisoners.
"Obviously, this is not justice or punishment, this is just part of a deal," said Dan Cohen. Cohen is the father of Theodora Cohen, one of the 270 persons who died in the December 21, 1988, explosion over Lockerbie, Scotland.
- AP