Alex Salmond and Kenny MacAskill set to be quizzed over Megrahi

[This is the headline over a report in today's edition of The Scotsman. It reads in part:]

First Minister Alex Salmond will today tell an inquiry into the release of the Lockerbie bomber that his government was left in a difficult situation due to lack of information from UK ministers.

Mr Salmond and justice secretary Kenny MacAskill are due to appear before the Scottish Affairs committee to answer questions on the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi. Mr MacAskill's decision to free the mass murderer on compassionate grounds caused outrage.

But Mr Salmond told The Scotsman that the UK government's failure to provide details about the prisoner transfer agreement meant that his government was unable to assess whether it could have seen off a judicial review if Megrahi had not been released.

"The problem is that we do not know what prior commitments were made by the UK government," said Mr Salmond.

[The following are excerpts from a report on the BBC News website:]

Alex Salmond and Kenny MacAskill are to give evidence to the Scottish affairs committee at Westminster.

Political opponents have been highly critical of the decision to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi.

Mr Salmond will say that protocols were followed and the UK and US governments were informed prior to the release. (...)

The Scottish Affairs Committee will question Mr Salmond and Mr MacAskill on Tuesday as part of an investigation into co-operation and communication between the Scottish and UK governments.

In particular MPs are looking at how this worked in the case of the Lockerbie bomber.

Mr Salmond is also likely to express regret at the scenes in Tripoli when Scottish flags were waved as Megrahi arrived home.