Libyan Bomber To Be Freed?

A decision is expected today on the proposed release of the Libyan man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing.

It looks increasingly likely that Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who has terminal prostate cancer, will be freed on compassionate grounds next week.

While Scottish ministers have described the development as "complete speculation", the BBC reported this morning that Alex Salmond, the First Minister, will be deciding the issue today.

He has three choices on the fate of the killer who is serving life for murdering 270 people when Pan Am flight 103 exploded in 1988.

He can keep him in custody - effectively until he dies - release him on humanitarian grounds as he is dying, or comply with a recent Libyan request to have him serve the rest of his sentence in his own country - again, to effectively die in jail.

However, one relative, speaking on BBC Radio this morning, was appalled by any sugested release or transfer.

Kathleen Flynn, whose son died on the plane, told the BBC she was horrified the "terrorist" could be released.

She added that he showed no mercy as he planted his bomb and should "never qualify for anything compassionate".

"Did Megrahi as he planted a bomb on a US airliner reflect on any compassion for the people he was about to blow out of the skies and the people on the ground in Lockerbie? I think not," she said.

Another American, Susan Cohen, whose 20-year-old daughter Theodora also died, said: "Any letting out of Megrahi would be a disgrace. It makes me sick, and if there is a compassionate release then I think that is vile."

But there is even a distance between grieving relatives with one, Pamela Dix, from the group, 'UK Families Flight 103', who said there had been a "lack of justice" for the victims, which included her brother Peter.

She told BBC Two's Newsnight on Wednesdsay that she was "baffled" by much of the evidence in the trial that led to Megrahi's conviction in 2001.

Martin Cadman, who lost his son in the bombing, said he believed Mergrahi was an innocent man who had acted with others.

He said: "As far as I know the Scottish authorities and no-one else has done anything to try and find who these others were that were supposed to be implicated, so the whole thing is really very unsatisfactory".

In spite of opposition, Mr Megrahi's release may be planned in time for him to be home with his family in Libya by the holy celebration of the Muslim Ramadan, which starts next Friday.

The Parole Board for Scotland has been asked to give its opinion on compassionate release.

The Libyan authorities - who have held high level talks with the Scottish justice secretary in recent days - have also been advised to make plans to fly Mr Megrahi back to Tripoli.

A spokesman for Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "No decision has been taken, either on the application for compassionate release or the application under the prisoner transfer agreement and so it is entirely speculation."

Megrahi was ordered to remain in prison for a minimum of 27 years, having been found guilty of the bombing - the UK's worst terrorist atrocity.

Megrahi's legal team had also made a request for him to released from prison on compassionate grounds.

Such requests are normally only granted where a prisoner has fewer than three months to live.

(BMcC/KMcA)