McVeigh moved nearer death chamber

A day before his scheduled execution, convicted Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh was moved to a holding cell near the chamber where he will be put to death.

McVeigh was transferred from his 8ft by 10ft cell at the US Penitentiary to the holding cell this morning, the Bureau of Prisons said.

He was cooperative and the move was without incident, officials said.

The 33-year-old is scheduled to die by chemical injection at 12.00pm tomorrow, the first person to be put to death by the federal government since 1963.

Capital punishment laws exist both under US federal law, and in 38 of 50 states.

The bombing on April 19, 1995, of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building killed 168 people.

McVeigh opposes the Government, and said he carried out the attack to avenge what he considered unjustified raids by federal agents at the Branch Davidian compound at Waco, Texas, and the cabin of white separatist Randy Weaver at Ruby Ridge, Idaho.