Lockerbie bomber seeks to drop appeal

A FORMER Libyan agent jailed for the murder of 270 people in the 1988 Lockerbie airliner bombing has asked to end his second appeal against his conviction, his lawyer said yesterday.

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 (PTA) signed by Britain and Libya.

Unconfirmed media reports this week said Scottish ministers were planning to release Megrahi on compassionate grounds, a move strongly opposed by the US government and many US relatives of those killed in the attack on the Pan Am plane.