MacAskill unable to meet deadline on Megrahi appeal

Published on Friday 31 July 2009 22:18

THE Scottish Government will not meet a 90-day deadline on an appeal to allow the Lockerbie bomber to return to his homeland, it has been confirmed.

But justice secretary Kenny MacAskill insisted that "political and economic" factors will not play any part in his decision on Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi.

Mr MacAskill is considering an application from Libya to transfer Megrahi back home, as well as an application for compassionate release by the bomber, who has terminal prostate cancer.

The justice secretary said yesterday: "There's a 90-day timescale within the PTA (prisoner transfer agreement), and that's due to end shortly.

"I won't be able to meet it precisely because of information still to come in, and I will have to reflect upon what happens.

"But I will thereafter be seeking to act as expeditiously as possible, and I think I will see if I can deal with questions of prisoner transfer and compassion together."

Mr MacAskill has spoken to the US attorney-general, the American families and British families of victims. He will also meet Megrahi next week.