Detectives in Scotland are renewing their investigation into the Lockerbie bombing case in the belief that convicted bomber Abdelbasset Ali al-Megrahi was not working alone, British newspapers are reporting today.

Meanwhile, in Malta, The Sunday Times is quoting the UN monitor of the Lockerbie trial as calling on Malta to question Maltese shopkeeper Tony Gauci - a key witness whose evidence led to Mr al-Megrahi's conviction - amid claims that he was paid in excess of $2 million for his cooperation.

His brother Paul is alleged to have been paid a further $1 million. The claims were made in documents which Mr al-Megrahi had intended to use for his appeal, before he was transferred to Libya.

The UK papers said the renewal of the investigation in to the Lockerbie case became possible because Mr al-Megrahi had dropped his appeal.

Relatives of the victims welcomed the move but also called for a public inquiry.

259 people died when a bomb exploded on Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish village of Lockerbie on December 21, 1988. 11 died on the ground. The bomb is alleged to have been placed in a suitcase along with clothing bought from a shop - Mary's House - in Sliema.

A spokesman for the Scottish investigators said there was no question of re-opening the case against Mr al-Megrahi. The open case concerns only the involvement of others with Megrahi in the murder of 270 people.