Scottish police reopen investigation into Lockerbie conviction

Scottish lawmakers have expressed anger at police brass who have reopened an investigation into the conviction of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi. Lawmakers for Scotland's ruling Scottish National Party said the police inquiry is an insult to families of the 270 victims of the infamous bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which exploded over the Scottish town in 1988. Al-Megrahi, a Libyan national, was convicted of the bombing. He was released on humanitarian grounds after it was thought he was terminally ill with cancer, but survived for several years after his release. Now police, responding to requests for a formal investigation into official conduct surrounding al-Megrahi's conviction, said they will investigate the matter, much to the chagrin of politicians who consider the matter settled, the Scotsman reported Tuesday. SNP members wrote to top police officials demanding to know how many officers had been assigned to the investigation and how far it had progressed but police officials responded they weren't sure and were not able to provide an update.