Scotland's Justice Secretary came under fire on Monday as he explained to MSPs why he decided to release the Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds.

Mr MacAskill also accused Libya of breaking a promise not to give freed Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi a hero's welcome on his return home.

Kenny MacAskill told an emergency session of the Scottish Parliament: "It is a matter of great regret that Mr Megrahi was received in such an inappropriate manner.

"It showed no compassion or sensitivity to the families of the 270 victims of Lockerbie. Assurances had been given by the Libyan Government that any return would be dealt with in a low-key and sensitive fashion."

Mr MacAskill was speaking at a special session of the Scottish Parliament, recalled from its summer recess to allow MSPs to question him on his decision to free terminally ill Megrahi.

The Justice Secretary repeatedly defended Megrahi's early release on compassionate grounds.

In a statement, similar to the one he made last week, he said: "It was my responsibility to decide upon these two applications. They were my decisions and my decisions alone."

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray told Parliament: "The cabinet secretary has mishandled this whole affair from start to finish.

"Between the scenes of triumph in Tripoli and the pain and anger at home and abroad, is there anything Mr MacAskill now regrets about his decision and the way it was reached?"

The Tories said the minister's decision was "flawed".

In his 20-minute statement to MSPs, Mr MacAskill set out in detail his rationale on deciding Megrahi's fate. The convicted Libyan, serving life for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, is said to be terminally ill with prostate cancer.

Mr MacAskill said he had already published key material on the applications for compassionate early release and for a prisoner transfer.

"I will now look to publish other relevant material," he told MSPs. "Some of this can only be done with the permission of others, which we are seeking."

He said Megrahi's decision to withdraw his second appeal against conviction is "a matter for him and the courts".

"My decisions were predicated on the fact that he was properly investigated, a lawful conviction passed and a life sentence imposed," he said.