Obama expresses concern to UK PM on Lockerbie

Washington, 11 Sept-(ANA)-US President Barack Obama has voiced his disappointment directly to UK PM Gordon Brown over the release of the Lockerbie bomber, the White House says.

It says Mr Obama made his remarks in a telephone call to Mr Brown.

The decision to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was taken by the Scottish government, and the British government insists it did not intervene at all.

Megrahi was jailed for the 1988 attack which claimed 270 lives. He was freed on compassionate grounds last month.

He then returned to his native Libya, where he was given a hero's welcome.

Mr Brown had made it clear the decision had been a matter for the Scottish government, the spokesman added.

Last month, Mr Obama said the release of the bomber was "a mistake", but had not expressed this personally to Mr Brown. (ANA)

FA/ANA/11 September 2009---