International Terror: The Lockerbie Atrocity

A total of 270 people were killed when a Boeing 747 jumbo jet, Pan Am flight 103, exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in December 1988.
Libyan Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi was jailed for mass murder in 2001, but was returned to Tripoli in 2009 on compassionate grounds.
Doctors treating him for prostate cancer estimated he had three months to live.
Now, three years on, he is reported to have died.
Most of those killed in the bombing of the jet, which was on its way from London to New York, were Americans.
All 259 passengers and crew were killed, along with 11 people on the ground.
Over the years, services have been held to mark anniversary dates of the atrocity.
Loved ones of the victims gather in Lockerbie, Heathrow and in the US to remember the dead.
Families of those killed in the attack were split over the release of Megrahi, who always maintained his innocence.
Some British relatives have been vociferous amongst a group of campaigners who believe the Libyan was wrongly convicted and long demanded an inquiry into the investigation and court proceedings that convicted him.
Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora died in the atrocity, always maintained that Megrahi was innocent, and expressed sadness over his death.
He told Sky News: "It's a very sad event. I met him in Tripoli in December last, when he was very sick and in a lot of pain... We both knew it was going to be our last meeting.
Dr Swire revealed that in their final meeting that Megrahi talked to him about clearing his name.
"He still wanted to talk to me about how information which he and his defence team have accumulated could be passed to me after his death," he said.
And David Ben-Ayreah, a spokesman for the victims of Lockerbie families, said: "His death is to be deeply regretted.
"As someone who attended the trial I have never taken the view that Megrahi was guilty.
"Megrahi is the 271st victim of Lockerbie."
But other relatives of victims maintained he should have stayed behind bars.
Relatives of American victims in particular remained furious at Megrahi's release.
US anger at the decision was compounded by the hero's welcome Megrahi received in Tripoli upon his return.

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