20100820
reuters

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya kept a low profile on Friday after Britain warned against any repeat of the celebrations a year ago that greeted the release of a Libyan intelligence agent convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.

Libya feted the return home of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, touting it as a victory for Libyan negotiating skills although the official reason for his release was compassionate grounds -- prostate cancer, believed at the time to be terminal.

But Megrahi remains alive today, prompting U.S. questions about the medical advice that led to his release, and calls from Britain on Libya to eschew any festivities on the first anniversary of the release that would be regarded as offensive to the families of Lockerbie victims, who were mainly American.

Megrahi was sentenced to life in prison in 2001 for his part in blowing up New York-bound Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988, killing 259 people on board and 11 people on the ground in the Scottish town of Lockerbie. He denied any role in the attack.

"The (Libyan) authorities instructed us to remain silent about the first anniversary of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi's return home," his brother, Abelhakim Ali, told Reuters on Friday.

"They stressed that it is not business or (showing) responsibility to comment on his release or the condition of his health," he added.

Milad Maatoug, head of Libya's National Youth Council which celebrated Megrahi's return, said its annual festival on Friday would avoid the Lockerbie subject altogether this time.

"We are holding our festival this year like we have been doing each year since 2006. But our event this time will have nothing to do with al-Megrahi at all," he said.