ARCHBISHOP TUTU BACKS MEGRAHI RELEASE.

ARCHBISHOP TUTU BACKS MEGRAHI RELEASE.

Former Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Archbishop Desmond Tutu has sent a message to the Scottish Government commending the decision of the Scottish Justice Secretary to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds. Archbishop Tutu joins a number of prominent figures to lend their support to the Justice Secretary’s decision including Nelson Mandela and Roman Catholic Archbishop Mario Conti. Commenting, the SNP Westminster leader and Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, said: "Archibishop Tutu’s intervention, which affirms international support for the Justice Secretary's decision, is very welcome. "The fact is that many people from across the parties, the legal fraternity, churches, civic Scotland and throughout the world have endorsed Kenny MacAskill's difficult decision to send al-Megrahi back to Libya to die. “Archibishop Tutu’s views demonstrate that there is a great deal of international respect and support for what was a compassionate decision by the Justice Secretary."

Notes: In his message to the Scottish Government, Archbishop Tutu said: "I believe the Scottish Justice Secretary's decision to release Mr al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds is to be commended. "One understands the anguish of family members and friends of the victims but they honour their memory more by being compassionate than retributive. "The outcry has been caused not so much by the release as by the welcome he got in Libya. These two issues should be separated."