Cairo, Asharq Al-Awsat-Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam has stated to Asharq Al-Awsat that the al-Megrahi case is closed and not open for discussion or debate. Abdul Basset al-Megrahi is the Libyan citizen who was recently returned to his homeland after spending 10 years in a Scottish jail after he was convicted for the 1980 Lockerbie bombing. Al-Megrahi was given compassionate leave to return to Libya after he was diagnosed with cancer, and given only months to live.

In a special interview with Asharq Al-Awsat conducted via telephone, Saif al-Islam also described al-Megrahi as being in good health. When asked by Asharq Al-Awsat about the state of al-Megrahi’s health and about the validity of rumors that al-Megrahi is on his deathbed Saif al-Islam said “This is not true, he was sick and was released for humanitarian reasons. He is now in a good and stable condition.”

When asked about the rumors that al-Megrahi has only months to live, Said al-Islam told Asharq Al-Awsat “This is for God to decide” adding “Thank God, he is in good health when compared to his state [of health] prior to his return to the country.”

Al-Megrahi was transferred to the Tripoli Medical Center under the patronage of the Gaddafi Development Foundation just two days after his return from Scotland. Al-Megrahi was hurried to the intensive care unit, and he is not being allowed to speak to the press due to his health issues.

Saif al-Islam also confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the al-Megrahi case was raised in the majority of meetings that he held with various British officials in the recent period. Saif al-Islam told Asharq Al-Awsat “Of course I did not give up on al-Megrahi. We sought with all our power to return al-Megrahi home to his family. The [al-Megrahi] file was on the table of all my meetings with them [British officials]. We are pleased by his return, and we are confident that if an investigation is carried out in the future [into the Lockerbie bombing], his innocence will be proven.”