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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Bomber ruling 'within two weeks' | Bomber ruling 'within two weeks' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill will deliver a decision on the fate of the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing within the next two weeks. | Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill will deliver a decision on the fate of the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing within the next two weeks. |
| A spokeswoman said he had only received final submissions and advice on Friday. | A spokeswoman said he had only received final submissions and advice on Friday. |
| Mr MacAskill will decide if Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi can be freed or allowed to serve out his jail term in Libya. | Mr MacAskill will decide if Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi can be freed or allowed to serve out his jail term in Libya. |
| The Foreign Office has also made clear that it sees no international legal obstacle to prevent the Scottish Government returning Megrahi to Libya. | |
| A spokeswoman told the BBC that the opinion applied to both the possibilities of prisoner transfer and compassionate release. | |
| It is the first public contribution the Foreign Office has made beyond a statement stressing that the final decision was "exclusively for Scottish ministers". | |
| Meanwhile, the first minister responded to calls for parliament to reconvene by saying that the decision would not be influenced by party politics. | Meanwhile, the first minister responded to calls for parliament to reconvene by saying that the decision would not be influenced by party politics. |
| Speaking in Aberdeen, Alex Salmond said the timescale regarding the announcement of a decision on Megrahi would be outlined to the Scottish Cabinet on Tuesday. | Speaking in Aberdeen, Alex Salmond said the timescale regarding the announcement of a decision on Megrahi would be outlined to the Scottish Cabinet on Tuesday. |
| 'Judicial matter' | 'Judicial matter' |
| But he said those urging the recall of parliament had to realise that Mr MacAskill would not be influenced by politics and once he had made his decision he would announce it to parliament in the normal way. | But he said those urging the recall of parliament had to realise that Mr MacAskill would not be influenced by politics and once he had made his decision he would announce it to parliament in the normal way. |
| The first minister said: "It is a matter in which the cabinet secretary for justice operates in a judicial way. | The first minister said: "It is a matter in which the cabinet secretary for justice operates in a judicial way. |
| "He is not influenced by world power politics, by press speculation or party politics." | "He is not influenced by world power politics, by press speculation or party politics." |
| Mr Salmond said Mr MacAskill had a "weighty responsibility". | Mr Salmond said Mr MacAskill had a "weighty responsibility". |
| "Once he makes the decision, he's accountable to parliament, as the whole government is, but he cannot be placed in a position where he's being influenced by party politics," he said. | "Once he makes the decision, he's accountable to parliament, as the whole government is, but he cannot be placed in a position where he's being influenced by party politics," he said. |
| Political pressure has been mounting for an urgent statement on the issue to be made to the Scottish Parliament. | Political pressure has been mounting for an urgent statement on the issue to be made to the Scottish Parliament. |
| Megrahi, who has terminal prostate cancer, has applied for either release on compassionate grounds or a transfer to a Libyan jail. | Megrahi, who has terminal prostate cancer, has applied for either release on compassionate grounds or a transfer to a Libyan jail. |
| An application was lodged last week to drop his appeal against conviction, a move which could clear the way for the second course of action. | An application was lodged last week to drop his appeal against conviction, a move which could clear the way for the second course of action. |
| There have also been reports that the Scottish Government intends to release him due to his health problems. | There have also been reports that the Scottish Government intends to release him due to his health problems. |
| We are hoping to have it as soon as possible - certainly within the next couple of weeks Scottish Government spokeswoman Mandelson spoke to Gaddafi's son | We are hoping to have it as soon as possible - certainly within the next couple of weeks Scottish Government spokeswoman Mandelson spoke to Gaddafi's son |
| However, it has consistently denied that Mr MacAskill had reached any verdict. | However, it has consistently denied that Mr MacAskill had reached any verdict. |
| A spokeswoman said: "He will make an announcement as soon as possible. | A spokeswoman said: "He will make an announcement as soon as possible. |
| "No date has been set for that announcement because he hasn't reached a decision and that is still the position. | "No date has been set for that announcement because he hasn't reached a decision and that is still the position. |
| "We are hoping to have it as soon as possible - certainly within the next couple of weeks." | "We are hoping to have it as soon as possible - certainly within the next couple of weeks." |
| Labour's Scottish justice spokesman Richard Baker has called for "due consideration" to be given to recalling the Scottish Parliament for a statement on the subject. | Labour's Scottish justice spokesman Richard Baker has called for "due consideration" to be given to recalling the Scottish Parliament for a statement on the subject. |
| Scottish Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott is also backing such a move. | Scottish Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott is also backing such a move. |
| "I've spoken this morning to the presiding officer asking for a recall of parliament, I hope he'll consider that," he said. | "I've spoken this morning to the presiding officer asking for a recall of parliament, I hope he'll consider that," he said. |
| "But I do think it's very important that MSPs have an opportunity to ask the first minister what in heaven's name he's doing?" | "But I do think it's very important that MSPs have an opportunity to ask the first minister what in heaven's name he's doing?" |
| He said the issue was being "very incompetently handled". | He said the issue was being "very incompetently handled". |
| Scottish Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said an immediate decision needed to be taken on Megrahi's future. | Scottish Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken said an immediate decision needed to be taken on Megrahi's future. |
| He added: "When it is, the First Minister must recall the Scottish Parliament to justify his actions." | He added: "When it is, the First Minister must recall the Scottish Parliament to justify his actions." |
| 'Under pressure' | 'Under pressure' |
| Last week the BBC reported that it understood Megrahi would soon be released on compassionate grounds. | Last week the BBC reported that it understood Megrahi would soon be released on compassionate grounds. |
| This prompted a mixed reaction from relatives and renewed political opposition from the US. | This prompted a mixed reaction from relatives and renewed political opposition from the US. |
| It was subsequently revealed that the Libyan had applied to drop his second appeal against his conviction. | It was subsequently revealed that the Libyan had applied to drop his second appeal against his conviction. |
| That led to claims that Megrahi had been put under pressure to abandon his efforts to clear his name. | That led to claims that Megrahi had been put under pressure to abandon his efforts to clear his name. |
| A court hearing will take place in Edinburgh on Tuesday into his application to drop his appeal. | A court hearing will take place in Edinburgh on Tuesday into his application to drop his appeal. |
| If that takes place, it would remove one potential obstacle to his transfer to a prison in Libya. | If that takes place, it would remove one potential obstacle to his transfer to a prison in Libya. |
| Megrahi is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum of 27 years after being convicted in 2001 of the 1988 bombing which killed 270 people. | Megrahi is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum of 27 years after being convicted in 2001 of the 1988 bombing which killed 270 people. |