Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only person convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, has joined the Libyan Olympic squad for 2012, a government spokesman in Libya announced.
Megrahi, who was released from a Scottish prison on compassionate grounds a year ago, because he was said to be suffering from cancer and only had 3 months to live, was brought to a press conference in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank, and needed physical assistance from his relatives to wave to the cameramen. He managed a feeble smile and started to speak in a faltering voice, but had to stop when it was clear that the exertion involved was causing a risk to his life.
The Libyan government spokesman said that al-Megrahi has been chosen to take part in the Pentathlon Event and is expected to win a bronze medal at least (if only on compassionate grounds). "Abdelbaset al-Megrahi is one of the strongest Libyans in our country", the spokesman said. "He managed to avoid blowing himself up in an airplane (allegedly), escaped CIA death squads and even cheated prostate cancer. He is virtually indestructible."
However, doctors have confirmed that he still only has a few months to live, though they have not said when those few months will start from.
Meanwhile, the entire US Senate together with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, have said that they will attend all of al-Megrahi's Olympic events to boo him.
