Politics

Senate Condemns Lockerbie Bomber Release

By Brian Montopoli

September 23, 2009 / 2:47 PM EDT / CBS News

(AP)

In a symbolic gesture that comes on the day that Libyan leader Moammar Qaddafi addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning the release of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, who was convicted for his role in the bombing of a Pan Am airplane over Lockerbie, Scotland.

The Lockerbie bombing killed 270 people, the majority of them Americans. Last month, a Scottish official ordered the release of al-Megrahi, who has prostate cancer. When al-Megrahi arrived in Libya he was greeted as a hero.

The Senate resolution also calls on Libya to apologize for the celebrations of al-Megrahi's release.

In his U.N. address, Qaddafi called the Security Council the "Terrorism Council" and suggested it had been used to "terrorize" developing nations.

Qaddafi Hijacks Spotlight at U.N.

Obama Calls for "Walls to Come Down"