MacAskill to meet Lockerbie families over Megrahi move

RELATIVES of those killed in the Lockerbie bombing are to meet Scotland's justice secretary, it was disclosed last night.

Kenny MacAskill, who is considering an application for the transfer to Libya of the man convicted of the bombing, spoke by phone today to US attorney general Eric Holder, the Scottish Government said.

Mr MacAskill is also to have discussions, at meetings and by video-conference, with representatives of British and American families.

He will also hear the views of the Libyan government.

But any decision on whether or not to transfer Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi from his Greenock jail to Libya will be taken on judicial grounds alone, a statement said.

Libyan authorities last month requested Megrahi be moved back to his home country.

Megrahi's second appeal against his conviction for the 1988 bombing, which claimed 270 lives, is under way in Edinburgh.

Yesterday's phone talks with the US attorney general were part of "the ongoing consideration" of the prisoner transfer application, said the Scottish Government.