Brown vents fury at Gaddafi over bomber's welcome

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After days of calls for him to speak out, the Prime Minister made clear he was furious with the Colonel Gaddafi for allowing a hero's welcome for Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi in Tripoli last week. He refused to comment on the Scottish Government's decision to release al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds, pointing out that the principle of devolution meant it was a matter for Edinburgh.

But Mr Brown emphasised the need for Libya to act with sensitivity towards the families of Lockerbie victims in the coming days and weeks. He said that regardless of the decision taken in Scotland, "our commitment to fighting terrorism is absolute".

The Prime Minister insisted the British Government had "no role" in the release. He also dismissed suggestions that the decision by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill would undermine Britain's relationship with the US and its other allies against terrorism.

"My first thoughts have been with the families of the victims of the Lockerbie bombing and I have to tell you that I was both angry and repulsed by the reception that a bomber convicted of a huge terrorist crime received," Mr Brown said.

"Whatever the decision that was made on a quasi-judicial basis by the Scottish Parliament, our determination to fight terrorism is clear. It is shown in all the action we have taken since 11 September, it is shown in the support that we have given in Iraq and Afghanistan dealing with problems where terrorism rears its ugly head," he added. "Our resolve to fight terrorism is absolute, our determination to work with other countries to fight and to root out terrorism is total.

"When I met Colonel Gaddafi over the summer, I made it absolutely clear to him that we had no role in making the decision about al-Megrahi's future. It was a matter over which we could not interfere."

The Pan Am 103 bomb, which killed 270 people, is the UK's biggest terrorist attack.