US sends invitations to McVeigh execution

The US Government has invited 1,100 people to attend the execution of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

McVeigh is set to die by injection at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, in May. He blew up the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995, killing 168 people.

Letters have been sent to bombing survivors and relatives of victims.

Eight seats are open to victims but that number could expand, US Bureau of Prisons spokesman Dan Dunne said.

Some Oklahoma City residents want the Government to put the execution on closed-circuit television.

"The number of victim seats could change given the number of victims involved," he told the Tulsa World.

"The first step is to get a sense of how many want to attend. Then we will look at what we can do to accommodate needs".

McVeigh is allowed execution seats for two attorneys, a spiritual adviser and three adult family members or friends. The Government will have a few seats and the media will be given 10 seats.

McVeigh has halted his appeals and has until mid-February to file a clemency request.

His attorney, Nathan Chambers, said he and his client have taken no position on the attempt to put the execution on closed-circuit television.