The Lockerbie bomber is dead, nearly three years after he was released from jail.
Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi was sentenced to life in prison for the 1988 bombing of a US airliner over the Scottish town, which claimed 270 lives.
The former Libyan intelligence officer was diagnosed with prostate cancer and released from prison in August 2009 with an estimated three months to live.
The decision, by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, to free the only man ever convicted of the atrocity provoked an international storm.
His death in Tripoli, at the age of 60, was announced by his son, Khaled.
The mother of one passenger said she hoped the convicted terrorist suffered a ”painful, horrible” death, while a spokesman for some of Megrahi’s British victims said his death was ”deeply regretted.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron reiterated his stance that he should never have been released while also dismissing calls for a further inquiry into the conviction.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: ”Mr Megrahi’s death ends one chapter of the Lockerbie case, but it does not close the book.
”However, all information which comes forward will confirm that the decisions of this administration have been in accordance with the due process of law.”
The bombing of Pan Am flight 103, travelling from London to New York four days before Christmas, killed all 259 people on board.
Eleven residents of the Dumfries and Galloway town also died after the plane crashed down on their homes in Britain’s biggest terrorist atrocity.
After protracted international pressure, Megrahi was put on trial in the Netherlands. He was found guilty in 2001 of mass murder and was ordered to serve a minimum of 27 years behind bars.
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Despite claims he could not have worked alone and the suspicion by some that he was innocent, Megrahi was the only man ever brought to justice over the terrorist attack.
Mr MacAskill’s subsequent decision to release him from Greenock prison and allow him to return home to die in Libya drew international condemnation.
Scottish ministers have always insisted the move was made in good faith, on compassionate grounds alone and followed the due process of Scots law. But many strongly opposed the decision.
US families were among the most vocal critics, along with US president Barack Obama. US secretary of state Hillary Clinton branded the move “absolutely wrong.”
American fury was compounded by the hero’s welcome Megrahi received in Tripoli upon his return.
Susan Cohen, whose daughter Theodora (20) was on the flight bound for John F Kennedy airport, said she believed Megrahi should have received the death penalty.
Speaking from her home in New Jersey, Mrs Cohen (74), said: “He died with his family around him. My daughter died a horrible death when she was 20 years old with her full life ahead of her. You call that justice?”
She continued: “I detest Megrahi, he was monstrous, and I hope his death was extremely painful and horrible.”
But David Ben-Ayreah, a spokesman for some of the British families who lost loved ones, described Megrahi as the “271st victim of Lockerbie.”
Mr Cameron moved to draw a line under calls for an inquiry into Megrahi’s conviction, which the Libyan always contested.
“Today is a day to remember the 270 people who lost their lives in what was an appalling terrorist act,” he said. “Our thoughts should be with them and their families for the suffering they’ve had.”
Dismissing calls for an inquiry, he added: “I’m very clear that the court case was properly done and properly dealt with.”
First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Our first thoughts are with the families of the Lockerbie atrocity, whose pain and suffering has been ongoing now for over 23 years.”
He added: “The Lockerbie case remains a live investigation, and Scotland’s criminal justice authorities have made clear that they will rigorously pursue any new lines of inquiry.”
Former Liberal Democrat leader and Scottish QC Sir Menzies Campbell said: “This brings to a satisfactory end a controversial series of events which began with the terrible and tragic loss of life over Lockerbie.”
Photos PA Wire