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| Lockerbie bomber release imminent | Lockerbie bomber release imminent |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing is expected to be released next week, the BBC understands. | The man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing is expected to be released next week, the BBC understands. |
| Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who is suffering from terminal prostate cancer, has been serving his jail sentence at Greenock Prison. | Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who is suffering from terminal prostate cancer, has been serving his jail sentence at Greenock Prison. |
| It is believed UK and Libyan officials have held talks this week. | |
| The Libyan had launched an appeal against his conviction for the murder of 270 people when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie in 1988. | The Libyan had launched an appeal against his conviction for the murder of 270 people when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie in 1988. |
| The speed of Megrahi's transfer is believed to be influenced by consensus among all parties that Megrahi be back on Libyan soil in time for Ramadan next week. | The speed of Megrahi's transfer is believed to be influenced by consensus among all parties that Megrahi be back on Libyan soil in time for Ramadan next week. |
| 'Request deadline' | 'Request deadline' |
| The news came after Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill visited Megrahi in prison, amid speculation he might be moved to Libya. | The news came after Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill visited Megrahi in prison, amid speculation he might be moved to Libya. |
| A prisoner transfer request was made by Libya to the UK government last May, less than a week after a treaty allowing prisoners to be transferred between the two countries was ratified. | A prisoner transfer request was made by Libya to the UK government last May, less than a week after a treaty allowing prisoners to be transferred between the two countries was ratified. |
| Under the agreement, the country holding a prisoner should give its answer within 90 days. | Under the agreement, the country holding a prisoner should give its answer within 90 days. |
| Decisions about prisoners are the responsibility of the Scottish Government, in effect giving Mr MacAskill the final say. | Decisions about prisoners are the responsibility of the Scottish Government, in effect giving Mr MacAskill the final say. |
| Mr MacAskill said last week he would miss the 90-day deadline, which expired on 3 August, because he was waiting for more information. | Mr MacAskill said last week he would miss the 90-day deadline, which expired on 3 August, because he was waiting for more information. |
| No transfer can take place if criminal proceedings are active, meaning Megrahi would have to drop his latest appeal against his conviction in order to be sent home. | No transfer can take place if criminal proceedings are active, meaning Megrahi would have to drop his latest appeal against his conviction in order to be sent home. |
| He was ordered to remain in prison for a minimum of 27 years, having been found guilty of the bombing - which is still the UK's worst terrorist atrocity. | He was ordered to remain in prison for a minimum of 27 years, having been found guilty of the bombing - which is still the UK's worst terrorist atrocity. |
| Megrahi's legal team had also made a request for him to released from prison on compassionate grounds. | Megrahi's legal team had also made a request for him to released from prison on compassionate grounds. |
| An earlier request, made in October 2008, was rejected by Appeal Court judges after they heard medical evidence that with adequate palliative care, Megrahi could live for several years. | An earlier request, made in October 2008, was rejected by Appeal Court judges after they heard medical evidence that with adequate palliative care, Megrahi could live for several years. |
| The court heard that such requests are normally only granted where a prisoner has less than three months to live. | The court heard that such requests are normally only granted where a prisoner has less than three months to live. |