Megrahi desperate to see his family, says MSP

[The Herald reports Christine Grahame MSP's visit to Abdelbaset Megrahi under the above headline. The full report can be read here. The Scotsman's similar report can be read here. The following are excerpts from The Herald's account:]

The Libyan convicted of the Lockerbie bombing is in deteriorating health and "absolutely desperate" to see his family, an MSP said yesterday.

But Christine Grahame refused to say whether Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi intends to abandon his appeal against conviction, following her meeting with him at Greenock Prison.

Libyan authorities have applied for Megrahi to be moved to Libya under a prisoner transfer treaty between that country and the UK.

But no decision on this can be made by Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill if there are outstanding legal proceedings. (...)

Emerging from the prison, Ms Grahame said: "I found it quite upsetting. The man is obviously very ill and he is desperate to see his family - absolutely desperate to see his family - so, whatever it takes, that's the priority."

She went on: "He did tell me things I can't discuss with you. But I am absolutely more convinced than ever that there has been a miscarriage of justice."

Asked if Megrahi planned to press on with his appeal, she said: "I can't say that - that is for him to say through his lawyers." (...)

Megrahi was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year and later failed to be freed on bail pending his appeal, which finally got under way last Tuesday in Edinburgh. Legal experts have warned that although the Libyan government has made the application for the transfer agreement, it cannot go ahead without the agreement of the prisoner.

The appeal against the length of sentence imposed on Megrahi would also have to be dropped if the transfer agreement is to go ahead.

Ms Grahame said: "His health is deteriorating, he was pretty upset and he is a man who wants to see his family."

With his health worsening, al Megrahi believed he had only "a short time to go", Ms Grahame said. "It was all about his family - we did talk about other matters, but it kept coming back to the importance of family."

Megrahi did not tell her how long he expected to live, nor did he offer an opinion on the move by Libyan authorities, said Ms Grahame. But she also said he wanted to clear his name.

"That is essential to him as well," she said. "Other matters I can't discuss with you because it would prejudice anything else."

Ms Grahame has previously said that if his appeal was abandoned there should be a public inquiry, and yesterday she repeated that view.

She said Megrahi knew a lot about the Lockerbie case.

"This man has lived this case for the last decade, he knows more about it probably than any other person on the planet. He is well-informed but his priority is his family.

"The man is an able man but he is a man who is terminally ill and missing his family as we all would. He wants to die at home with his family."