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| Decision reached on bomber's fate | Decision reached on bomber's fate |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| A decision has been reached which could see the Lockerbie bomber freed or transferred to jail in Libya. | A decision has been reached which could see the Lockerbie bomber freed or transferred to jail in Libya. |
| The Scottish justice secretary has said he will announce the fate of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on Thursday afternoon. | The Scottish justice secretary has said he will announce the fate of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on Thursday afternoon. |
| Megrahi, 57, is dying from terminal prostate cancer. The BBC revealed last week that Megrahi was likely to be released on compassionate grounds. | Megrahi, 57, is dying from terminal prostate cancer. The BBC revealed last week that Megrahi was likely to be released on compassionate grounds. |
| He is serving at least 27 years in jail after his conviction for the Pan Am bomb in 1988, which killed 270 people. | He is serving at least 27 years in jail after his conviction for the Pan Am bomb in 1988, which killed 270 people. |
| Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said he had informed families and other interested parties that he had reached his decision on the applications for prisoner transfer and compassionate release. | Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said he had informed families and other interested parties that he had reached his decision on the applications for prisoner transfer and compassionate release. |
| He will announce his decision on Thursday at 1300 BST at the Scottish Government's ministerial headquarters in Edinburgh. | He will announce his decision on Thursday at 1300 BST at the Scottish Government's ministerial headquarters in Edinburgh. |
| Hillary Clinton: ''We think it is very much against the wishes of the family members'' | Hillary Clinton: ''We think it is very much against the wishes of the family members'' |
| It is thought preparations for Mr Megrahi's possible release were being made in time for him to be home with his family in Libya by Ramadan, which starts on Friday. | It is thought preparations for Mr Megrahi's possible release were being made in time for him to be home with his family in Libya by Ramadan, which starts on Friday. |
| Intense pressure on the justice secretary and the Scottish Government has been mounting, including interventions from the White House. | Intense pressure on the justice secretary and the Scottish Government has been mounting, including interventions from the White House. |
| On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated her opposition to the possible release of Megrahi. | On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated her opposition to the possible release of Megrahi. |
| She said it would be "absolutely wrong". | She said it would be "absolutely wrong". |
| "I knew a lot of these families. I talked with them about what a horror they experienced," Mrs Clinton said. | "I knew a lot of these families. I talked with them about what a horror they experienced," Mrs Clinton said. |
| Earlier this week, a letter from seven US senators including Edward Kennedy and John Kerry urged Mr MacAskill to keep Megrahi behind bars. | Earlier this week, a letter from seven US senators including Edward Kennedy and John Kerry urged Mr MacAskill to keep Megrahi behind bars. |
| A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We have a strong justice system in Scotland and people can be assured that the justice secretary's decisions have been reached on the basis of clear evidence and on no other factors." | A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We have a strong justice system in Scotland and people can be assured that the justice secretary's decisions have been reached on the basis of clear evidence and on no other factors." |
| Appeal dropped | Appeal dropped |
| Chancellor Alistair Darling, standing in for the prime minister while Gordon Brown is on holiday, said it was a decision for the Scottish Government. | Chancellor Alistair Darling, standing in for the prime minister while Gordon Brown is on holiday, said it was a decision for the Scottish Government. |
| On Tuesday, judges at the High Court in Edinburgh who accepted Megrahi's application to drop his appeal were told Megrahi's health had recently worsened very considerably. | On Tuesday, judges at the High Court in Edinburgh who accepted Megrahi's application to drop his appeal were told Megrahi's health had recently worsened very considerably. |
| By dropping his appeal, Megrahi has removed one potential obstacle to his transfer to a jail in his homeland. | By dropping his appeal, Megrahi has removed one potential obstacle to his transfer to a jail in his homeland. |
| However, a Crown appeal against the length of his sentence is still ongoing. | However, a Crown appeal against the length of his sentence is still ongoing. |
| Megrahi has recently been serving his sentence at HMP Greenock, in the west of Scotland, after being convicted of the bombing under Scots law at a specially convened court in the Netherlands in 2001. | |
| Do you think Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi should be released? | Do you think Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi should be released? |
| Send us your views on video or webcam toyourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send us your views on video or webcam toyourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Or you can leave your views on the form below. | Or you can leave your views on the form below. |
| NameYour E-mail addressTown & CountryPhone number (optional):Comments | NameYour E-mail addressTown & CountryPhone number (optional):Comments |