Lockerbie bomber seeks to abandon second appeal

The former Libyan agent jailed for life for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has applied to abandon his second appeal against his conviction, his lawyer said today. Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, 57, who is dying of prostate cancer, must drop his appeal to be...

The former Libyan agent jailed for life for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has applied to abandon his second appeal against his conviction, his lawyer said today.

Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, 57, who is dying of prostate cancer, must drop his appeal to be considered for repatriation under a prisoner transfer agreement signed by Britain and Libya.

Unconfirmed media reports this week said the Scottish government was planning to release Megrahi on compassionate grounds.

"He applied to the high court of justiciary to abandon his appeal against conviction," Megrahi's lawyer Tony Kelly said in a statement.

The court in Edinburgh will meet on Tuesday to consider the request, a spokesman said.

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