Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is to hold a face-to-face meeting in the coming days with the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is to hold a face-to-face meeting in the coming days with the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing.

A verdict is due later this month on whether or not terminally ill Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi will be allowed to transfer and serve the rest of his sentence in Libya, and Mr MacAskill has said he wants to meet all the parties involved before he makes a decision either way.

Though a transfer would not be allowed while legal proceedings are ongoing, meaning Megrahi would have to drop his appeal against the conviction, Mr MacAskill also has it in his power to allow the transfer on compassionate grounds.

The Scottish Government said yesterday: "We have received confirmation that Mr Megrahi does want to make representations to the cabinet secretary, so we will take that forward.

Mr MacAskill feels it would seem unfair if we didn't hear representations from the man who this is all about."