Libyan cleared of bombing makes plea for co-accused

A Libyan cleared of carrying out the Lockerbie bombing is calling for his co-accused, who was jailed for the atrocity, to be freed.

Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah says he is "totally convinced" of the innocence of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, who was jailed for life.

Fhimah's comments were published as Al Megrahi was granted leave to appeal against his conviction for murder.

A panel of three judges ruled in January he was guilty of killing the 270 people who died when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie in December 1988.

An appeal hearing will be heard by five judges at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands, the special Scottish court built for the original trial.

Interviewed at the offices of his Libyan lawyers, Fhimah, 44, who received a hero's welcome on his return home, said he would campaign for the release of Al Megrahi, 49.

He said: "I'm happy that the truth came out as far as I'm concerned. I hope that the same thing will happen soon to Mr Megrahi and I will see him back in Libya. I am totally convinced he is innocent. I hope the appeal judges study this case carefully."

Fhimah said he believed it was an "accident" that the bomb had gone off while the plane was flying over Lockerbie, killing 11 people on the ground as well as the 259 passengers.

He said: "Whoever was planning to bomb the aircraft, he didn't know where the aircraft would come down. Scotland was involved by chance. The Scottish people became the victims by accident."

He added he was angry the families of some of the American victims were pursuing him for civil damages through the US courts in a lawsuit which carries his name: "They should be ashamed of themselves and remove my name. I was under a court and the court gave its ruling."