Lockerbie bomber may be transferred to Libya on health grounds
13/08/200909:54
LONDON, August 13 (RIA Novosti) - The man convicted of organizing the 1988 Lockerbie plane bombing may be transferred from a Glasgow jail to Libya next week on compassionate grounds, British media said on Thursday.
However, Scottish authorities have refused to confirm that former Libyan agent Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, who has prostate cancer, is to be handed over to Tripoli, saying in a statement that an application from the Libyan authorities is being considered.
Al-Megrahi was convicted in 2001 of organizing the bombing of Pan Am flight 103. The plane exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing 259 people on board and 11 on the ground. He was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years behind bars.
In April, Britain and Libya signed an agreement on the exchange of prisoners. In May, Libyan authorities officially requested the transfer of 57-year-old al-Megrahi to Libya on health grounds.
Scotland's justice secretary, Kenny MacAskill, visited al-Megrahi at Greenock Prison earlier this week.
Libya accepted responsibility for the bombing in 2005 and said it would pay some $2.7 billion in compensation to the families of those who died in the bombing. The move led to the lifting of sanctions against Libya and was instrumental in the restoration of ties between the North African state and the West.
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