Lockerbie bomber begins appeal

The man jailed for the Lockerbie bombing is beginning his bid to overturn his conviction.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi was found guilty of carrying out the 1988 atrocity at the end of a trial at a Scottish court convened in Holland.

But his lawyers say fresh evidence has since emerged which casts doubt on the guilt of the Libyan, who was ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years in prison.

Al Megrahi, who has been held in prison at the former US air base of Camp Zeist since being sentenced last January, was granted leave to appeal in August.

The hearing is set to make history as the first Scottish proceedings to be broadcast live on the internet.

TV footage will also be used in news bulletins by the BBC and Scottish Television, although broadcasters will be subject to a number of restrictions including a ban on televising evidence from witnesses.

A panel of five judges, headed by Lord Cullen, the Lord Justice General, was selected last week to hear the appeal, which is expected to last about three weeks.

Al Megrahi's case is likely to hinge on the evidence of a Heathrow security guard who claims the airport was broken into on December 21, 1988 - 17 hours before the Pan Am plane took off for New York.

Ray Manly said he reported the break-in at the time and was interviewed by anti-terrorist officers, but his evidence was never mentioned at Al Megrahi's trial.

Al Megrahi's defence team has always insisted the bomb suitcase was likely to have been placed on board the plane at Heathrow and will look to Mr Manly's evidence to support their claim.