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| Bomber 'release' resignation call | Bomber 'release' resignation call |
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| A leading Scottish QC has called on the justice secretary to resign over the handling of the possible release of the Lockerbie bomber. | A leading Scottish QC has called on the justice secretary to resign over the handling of the possible release of the Lockerbie bomber. |
| Kenny MacAskill is expected to announce that Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi will be released on compassionate grounds. | Kenny MacAskill is expected to announce that Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi will be released on compassionate grounds. |
| But Paul McBride, who advises the Tory party on law and order, said Mr MacAskill should have recalled Parliament to discuss the matter. | But Paul McBride, who advises the Tory party on law and order, said Mr MacAskill should have recalled Parliament to discuss the matter. |
| Mr McBride said cancer sufferer Megrahi was being feted like a celebrity. | Mr McBride said cancer sufferer Megrahi was being feted like a celebrity. |
| The 57-year-old is the only person to be convicted over the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which claimed 270 lives. | |
| The QC described the manner in which his possible release was being discussed as "beyond shameful". | The QC described the manner in which his possible release was being discussed as "beyond shameful". |
| The convicted mass murderer was being given extraordinary, special treatment with decisions about his fate being made in secrecy, he said. | The convicted mass murderer was being given extraordinary, special treatment with decisions about his fate being made in secrecy, he said. |
| Paul McBride QC said Megrahi would be given a hero's welcome in Libya | Paul McBride QC said Megrahi would be given a hero's welcome in Libya |
| He told BBC Scotland he was angry that Mr MacAskill visited Megrahi in jail and said other prisoners do not get that right. | He told BBC Scotland he was angry that Mr MacAskill visited Megrahi in jail and said other prisoners do not get that right. |
| Mr McBride said the issue had made Scotland "look stupid and a worldwide laughing stock", and called for Westminster to become involved in the discussions. | Mr McBride said the issue had made Scotland "look stupid and a worldwide laughing stock", and called for Westminster to become involved in the discussions. |
| Meanwhile, reacting to the news that the Libyan had applied to abandon his appeal against his conviction, the former Labour MP Tam Dalyell, who has long argued Megrahi's innocence, said: "The last time I saw him was in Greenock prison. | Meanwhile, reacting to the news that the Libyan had applied to abandon his appeal against his conviction, the former Labour MP Tam Dalyell, who has long argued Megrahi's innocence, said: "The last time I saw him was in Greenock prison. |
| "He said rather movingly to me that he was desperate to go back to Tripoli to see his family grow up. | "He said rather movingly to me that he was desperate to go back to Tripoli to see his family grow up. |
| "But he wanted to go back as an innocent man. | "But he wanted to go back as an innocent man. |
| "If he abandons his appeal, it means that Lockerbie will be one of those mysteries like the assassination of President Kennedy that will remain unsolved for a long time - possibly forever." | "If he abandons his appeal, it means that Lockerbie will be one of those mysteries like the assassination of President Kennedy that will remain unsolved for a long time - possibly forever." |
| Megrahi was convicted of murder in 2001 at a trial held under Scottish law in the Netherlands. | |
| A first appeal against that verdict was rejected the following year. | |
| His second appeal got under way this year but shortly afterwards applications were made for both his transfer to a Libyan jail and release on compassionate grounds. | |
| The Scottish Government has said no decision had yet been taken on Megrahi's future and insisted no pressure had been put on him to abandon his appeal. | The Scottish Government has said no decision had yet been taken on Megrahi's future and insisted no pressure had been put on him to abandon his appeal. |