Convicted Lockerbie bomber, terrorist Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi was flown home to Libya yesterday and received a hero's welcome when he touched down in the oil-rich territory.
He emerged, smiling, from the aircraft and seemed visibly to become younger and straighter as he descended the steps.
A medical reception team awaited him in the presidential airport bunker and he was whisked away for examination.
The procedure took less than an hour and the chief medical officer arrived to make a statement to the waiting crowds.
To tumultuous applause, Dr Achmed bin Liner announced that al-Megrahi's terminal prostate cancer had entered spontaneous remission during the repatriation flight and that he would live to be 90.
"These are the benefits of state-sponsored medicine! As well as state sponsored terrorism! Mr al-Megrahi will receive a large pension from a grateful Arab world" commented Dr bin Liner.
Mr Al Megrahi's story will be published in October by Macmillan and will be serialised in the Scottish Daily Express.
