"At least before he died we learnt what he already knew: that the story that a Libyan bomb using a long-running timer had started its journey from Malta was a myth. The famed fragment “PT35b” could never have been part of one of the timers allegedly used. There is now no valid evidence left from the court that either Malta, its flag carrier airline or Baset’s own country were involved. Baset has a valid alibi and he died knowing that in the end the truth will emerge.

"On release from prison, his valedictory letter made clear that he attached no blame to the Scottish people for what had happened to him. This, from a man wrongly segregated from his family for years, and in the grip of a terrible disease, tells us much about the nature of Baset al-Megrahi. No one can be sure how much the stress of his terrible predicament affected his immune system and contributed to the spread of his fatal disease.

"Later, when I met him in Tripoli, he was concerned that I as a victim’s father should get access, on his death, to all the information that had been amassed to fight his abandoned appeal. He knew that I still grieved for my daughter and sought the truth as to who had really murdered her. On the brink of his own death, he found the spirit to empathise with me. That was a measure of this man.

It is a tragedy that we have failed to overturn the verdict while he was alive. But we must clear his name posthumously for the sake of truth and for the future peace of his family. If we do nothing then a great evil will have triumphed."

Dr Jim Swire

"I note the reports of Megrahi's death.

"The investigation into the Lockerbie bombing will continue, to bring to justice the others involved in this act of state-sponsored terrorism."
Frank Mulhiollnad. Lord Advocate

"It is open for relatives of Mr Megrahi to apply to the Scottish Criminal Case Review Commission to seek a further appeal. And the best, indeed the only, place for guilt or innocence to be determined is in a court of law."

Alex Salmond

"This has been thoroughly gone through. There was a proper process, a proper court proceeding and all the rest of it. We have to give people the chance to mourn those that were lost."

David Cameron

"This is three years too late. While I'm happy that he is dead, long ago I left it in the hands of God. I know exactly where he is, and I know it is quite hot. I'm sure he and Gaddafi are reunited again." 

Carole Johnson, mother of Beth Ann Johnson.

"Megrahi was convicted by a Scots court, under Scots law, of the greatest act of mass murder in Scottish history. Three years ago the Scottish government chose to release him on the pretext he had just three months to live. That was an insult to the victims.

"At this moment let me, on behalf of the people of Scotland, apologise to the families of all the victims of the Lockerbie bombing, for his early release."

Johann Lamont

 "Although this is an end to a chapter of one of the worst terrorist events in Scotland there should be no celebration that Abdelbaset al-Megrahi has died. Instead it should act as a spur to establish the facts including whether crucial forensic evidence was withheld from the trial."

Willie Rennie

“I detest Megrahi, he was monstrous and I hope his death was extremely painful and horrible.”

Susan Cohen

 “I feel sad because people knew very well that the man was a scapegoat and was innocent of this terrible, terrible crime.

“It was convenient that he was a scapegoat for Britain and the US at a time when they wanted to go to war in Iraq. It makes me feel ashamed as a politician and ashamed of the Scottish justice system.”

Tam Dalyell