Megrahi doctor says medical assessment "fair" reflection

Consultant oncologist Grahame Howard was among the four experts whose advice was used in determining whether terminally-ill Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi had three months to live.

But Dr Howard, of the Edinburgh Cancer Centre, said the "final assessment", which paved the way for Megrahi's compassionate release to Libya last year, was not made by him.

The development came as a new survey showed most Scots believe it was correct that the decision to release him was made in Scotland.

It also revealed a clear majority think the SNP administration was right to reject calls from the US to appear before a Senate committee hearing on the issue.

In a statement issued through the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), Dr Howard said: "As an external adviser I was involved in discussions leading up to the point where Mr Megrahi was considered for release on medical grounds.

"The background medical portion of that application is a fair reflection of the specialist advice available at the time.

"The final assessment of prognosis was made by Dr Andrew Fraser taking into account the deterioration in his clinical condition."

The only publicly-available document on Megrahi's health is from Dr Fraser, the SPS director of health and care.

While describing the three-month prognosis as "reasonable", the report states that no-one "would be willing to say" if Megrahi would live longer.