Lockerbie bomber drops appeal

Wednesday 19 August 2009 00:00 BST
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The Libyan jailed for the Lockerbie bombing has dropped his second appeal against his conviction for the attack that killed 270 people.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, who is dying from prostate cancer, is serving a life sentence after being convicted in 2001 of the 1988 atrocity – Britain's biggest terrorist attack. Three judges at the High Court in Edinburgh accepted his move to drop his appeal amid speculation that he could be freed within days.

The court heard Megrahi's condition had worsened "very considerably", and that he was anxious to spend his remaining time with his family. The Scottish Justice Secretary, Kenny MacAskill, will decide whether or not to release Megrahi on compassionate grounds by the end of the month.

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