Italy’s prime minister defied harsh criticism to fly to Libya just 10 days after its leader and people gave a warm welcome to a man just released from prison after a deadly 1988 airline bombing.

Nelson Mandela has given his backing to the controversial decision to free the Lockerbie bomber, it emerged today.

Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi failed in his bid to be freed on bail today after judges in Edinburgh rejected his application to be freed on 'compassionate grounds'.

A “compelling case” exists for releasing the cancer-stricken Lockerbie bomber on bail pending his appeal, a Scottish court heard today.

EGYPT and Tunisia would both be prepared to let the man convicted over the Lockerbie bombing serve his sentence in their country, former South African president Nelson Mandela said yesterday.

The Libyan man convicted of murder in connection with the Lockerbie bombing will learn the outcome of his appeal on Thursday, March 14, Scottish officials announced today.