From the despot who tried to quell an uprising by telling his people the rebels were all tripping on hallucinogens, the world gets an appearance at a rally by the only man ever convicted and jailed for the PanAm 103 bombing.
At a pro-Gadhafi rally in Tripoli, the regime rolled out a frail and wheelchair bound Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, who doctors promised was supposed to be dead by now.
Al-Megrahi, 58, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and released in August 2009 after doctors convinced the Scottish government he had only three months to live. Britain and the U.S. protested.
The propaganda stunt yesterday outraged a top British government official,who scoffed at the medical evidence that freed the Libyan terrorist.
"I think the appearance of Mr. al-Megrahi on our television screens is a further reminder that a great mistake was made when he was released," said British Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Al-Megrahi was shown live on Libyan state-run television in what was believed to be his first public appearance in 22 months. The announcer described his release a victory against the West.
"I think many people, particularly the families of those killed at Lockerbie, I think their anger and outrage at this release will be further intensified by what we have seen," Hague complained.
The 1988 bombing killed 270 people on the New York-bound flight and on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland.
The terrorist attack linked to the Gadhafi regime became relevant during the Libyan revolution when Gadhafi's former spy chief and foreign minister, Mousa Kousa, defected. Kousa was implicated by some to be a player in the Pan Am 103 plot.
In other Libya news, the U.S. reportedly has signed onto efforts to get Gadhafi and the rebel government to consider an exit plan that allows the fallen dictator and his family to remain in Libya, but his regime must be abolished.
A rebel spokesman in Benghazi says the offer to allow Gadhafi to remain is off the table, Reuters reported.
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