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| Majority 'oppose' Megrahi release | Majority 'oppose' Megrahi release |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Only a third of Scots believe the Lockerbie bomber should have been freed from prison last week, a poll commissioned by BBC News has suggested. | Only a third of Scots believe the Lockerbie bomber should have been freed from prison last week, a poll commissioned by BBC News has suggested. |
| The ICM Research survey indicated almost three quarters thought Scotland's reputation was damaged by Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi's release. | |
| But only 36% thought Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill should quit. | But only 36% thought Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill should quit. |
| Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said Mr MacAskill had shown "guts" in making a difficult and right decision. | Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said Mr MacAskill had shown "guts" in making a difficult and right decision. |
| Mr MacAskill announced on 20 August that Megrahi, who is terminally-ill with prostate cancer, would be freed on compassionate grounds and allowed to return to Libya. | Mr MacAskill announced on 20 August that Megrahi, who is terminally-ill with prostate cancer, would be freed on compassionate grounds and allowed to return to Libya. |
| He had served eight years of a life sentence for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie, in southern Scotland, in which 270 people died. | He had served eight years of a life sentence for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over the town of Lockerbie, in southern Scotland, in which 270 people died. |
| Brian TaylorBBC Scotland political editor It may not last. It may fade. But, right now, people in Scotland seem decidedly hostile to the decision to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. | Brian TaylorBBC Scotland political editor It may not last. It may fade. But, right now, people in Scotland seem decidedly hostile to the decision to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi. |
| Opposition to the particular decision taken by Kenny MacAskill is nearly two to one. Even offered options, a majority say that the Libyan should never have been released from jail. | Opposition to the particular decision taken by Kenny MacAskill is nearly two to one. Even offered options, a majority say that the Libyan should never have been released from jail. |
| Intriguingly, glancing at the figures in more detail, opinion against release appears particularly strong among younger people, with the elderly more inclined towards compassionate release. | Intriguingly, glancing at the figures in more detail, opinion against release appears particularly strong among younger people, with the elderly more inclined towards compassionate release. |
| But, in all age groups, more oppose the decision than support it. Brian Taylor on a minister under pressure | But, in all age groups, more oppose the decision than support it. Brian Taylor on a minister under pressure |
| A random sample of 1,005 adults from across Scotland were questioned by telephone on Wednesday and Thursday. | |
| The survey found showed 60% thought the Scottish government was wrong to release Megrahi against 32% of respondents who believed it was the right decision. | |
| Of those polled, 57% believed Megrahi should have remained in prison until he died, while 37% thought he should have been released at some point prior to his death. | Of those polled, 57% believed Megrahi should have remained in prison until he died, while 37% thought he should have been released at some point prior to his death. |
| Despite Mr MacAskill's insistence to the contrary, more than two thirds of those questioned - 68% - thought the decision was influenced by factors other than Megrahi's health, while only 20% believed it was made purely on compassionate grounds. | Despite Mr MacAskill's insistence to the contrary, more than two thirds of those questioned - 68% - thought the decision was influenced by factors other than Megrahi's health, while only 20% believed it was made purely on compassionate grounds. |
| Mr MacAskill's controversial meeting with Megrahi in Greenock Prison on 4 August was also unpopular, according to the poll, with 52% believing the visit should not have taken place, and 36% saying it should. | Mr MacAskill's controversial meeting with Megrahi in Greenock Prison on 4 August was also unpopular, according to the poll, with 52% believing the visit should not have taken place, and 36% saying it should. |
| The justice secretary has claimed the visit was required under the terms of the Libyan government's prisoner transfer request, but this has been disputed by opposition politicians. | The justice secretary has claimed the visit was required under the terms of the Libyan government's prisoner transfer request, but this has been disputed by opposition politicians. |
| MEGRAHI POLL Scottish survey on release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi [107 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | MEGRAHI POLL Scottish survey on release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi [107 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| Almost three quarters of those polled said the affair had damaged the standing of the Scottish government in the eyes of voters, with the same proportion believing the release of Megrahi had damaged Scotland's reputation. | Almost three quarters of those polled said the affair had damaged the standing of the Scottish government in the eyes of voters, with the same proportion believing the release of Megrahi had damaged Scotland's reputation. |
| Only 11% said it had enhanced the reputation of the country, while 10% said it had made no difference one way or the other. | Only 11% said it had enhanced the reputation of the country, while 10% said it had made no difference one way or the other. |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also apparently been damaged by the controversy over the release of Megrahi, despite his insistence that it was purely a matter for the Scottish government. | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also apparently been damaged by the controversy over the release of Megrahi, despite his insistence that it was purely a matter for the Scottish government. |
| The poll suggested that 34% believed Mr Brown's reputation had been damaged "a lot", with a further 33% saying it had been damaged "a little". | The poll suggested that 34% believed Mr Brown's reputation had been damaged "a lot", with a further 33% saying it had been damaged "a little". |
| But only 29% of those surveyed said the prime minister had not been damaged. | But only 29% of those surveyed said the prime minister had not been damaged. |
| A minority of people - 39% - said they thought the UK government should have tried to influence the decision by the Scottish Government, while 52% said it was right not to get involved. | A minority of people - 39% - said they thought the UK government should have tried to influence the decision by the Scottish Government, while 52% said it was right not to get involved. |
| Responding to the poll findings, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond stood by his justice minister. | Responding to the poll findings, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond stood by his justice minister. |
| He said: "I acknowledge that these were difficult, controversial decisions but somebody had to take a decision and it fell to the Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, to do so. | He said: "I acknowledge that these were difficult, controversial decisions but somebody had to take a decision and it fell to the Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, to do so. |
| "Sometimes in life and politics and in government, there's no easy option available. You have to take hard choices because you think and believe you're doing the right thing and you know it just takes guts to govern sometimes and Kenny MacAskill showed that." | "Sometimes in life and politics and in government, there's no easy option available. You have to take hard choices because you think and believe you're doing the right thing and you know it just takes guts to govern sometimes and Kenny MacAskill showed that." |
| Megrahi, who has always maintained his innocence, was the only person convicted over the Lockerbie bombing. | Megrahi, who has always maintained his innocence, was the only person convicted over the Lockerbie bombing. |
| He returned to a hero's welcome in Libya after being released from Greenock Prison. | He returned to a hero's welcome in Libya after being released from Greenock Prison. |
| The release sparked widespread criticism in the UK, as well as from US politicians, law enforcement agencies and victims' relatives. | The release sparked widespread criticism in the UK, as well as from US politicians, law enforcement agencies and victims' relatives. |
| An internet campaign was also launched calling on Americans to boycott Scottish and UK goods over the release. | An internet campaign was also launched calling on Americans to boycott Scottish and UK goods over the release. |