Scotland - US -Lockerbie trial

Fate of Libyan is in the hands of Scottish minister

Article published on the 2009-08-18 Latest update 2009-08-19 09:30 TU

Lockerbie memorial garden in Lockerbie, Scotland
(Photo: Reuters)

A Scottish High Court has allowed an ailing Libyan convicted over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing to drop his appeal, leaving his fate in the hands of a Scottish minister. Abdel-baset Al-Megrahi's lawyers say he is suffering fom severe pain with terminal prostate cancer, and wishes to die surrounded by his family.

Al-Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence agent, is the only person convicted over the 1988 atrocity. He is serving a 27-year term after being convicted of blowing up a Pan Am airplane in December 1988 over the village of Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people.

Seven senators from the United States have written to Scotland's justice secretary, calling for Megrahi to remain in jail. US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton made the same request last week.

David Ben Aryeah, an adviser to the families of British victims of the Lockerbie plane blast, called the senators' request "highly politicised, ill-informed and possibly for domestic consumption, not Scottish consumption."

Most families of the British victims "have serious misgivings of the verdict of guilt against Megrahi," Ben Aryeah told RFI.

Megrahi, 57, has terminal prostate cancer and could be granted a compassionate release by Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.

Lawyers for Megrahi told Edinburgh's High Court that he was "very weak."

"He is suffering from severe pain and he is in distress. His absolute priority is to die surrounded by his family," said lawyer Maggie Scott.

MacAskill is scheduled to take a decision on the case by the end of the month.