Human decency and humanity found alive and well in Scotland

Lockerbie bomber in cancer battle

Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi is battling "advanced stage" cancer. His lawyer said: "Following hospital tests, Mr Megrahi was last month diagnosed with prostate cancer. Unfortunately the disease has spread to other parts of his body and is therefore at an advanced stage...He wishes me to make clear that the fight to overturn his wrongful conviction for the Lockerbie bombing will go on."

Dr Jim Swire, who is spokesman for the UK Families Flight 103 group and whose daughter Flora died in the bombing, called for Megrahi's appeal to be speeded up.

"I'm not satisfied that the verdict against him is correct. It sounds to me like an unfolding human tragedy. If his prognosis is bad then I hope that the Scottish authorities would look for a way of speeding up the next appeal without compromising the fairness of it. It would be an act of great humanity to do that."