Lockerbie bomber 'could be released within days'

Lockerbie bomber 'could be released within days'

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing who is suffering from terminal prostate cancer, could be released on compassionate grounds within days, according to reports.



Megrahi is currently appealing against his conviction and has asked to be freed on compassionate grounds.

The decision to release Megrahi rests with Kenny MacAskill, the Scottish Justice Secretary.

Megrahi is serving a life sentence for his 2001 conviction for blowing up PanAm flight 103 in December 1988, leaving 270 people dead, in the worst terrorist atrocity and the biggest mass murder in British legal history.

Earlier this week Mr MacAskill, who in effect has the final say on Megrahi's release, had met him at Greenock Prison, where he is serving his sentence. According to the Scottish Government, he spent about half an hour with him.