The Libyan man convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has applied to abandon his second appeal to the Scottish courts.
On Thursday it was reported that Scottish authorities were preparing to free Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds.
However, in order to do so, the Scottish courts would have to drop the Libyan's current appeal against his sentence.
Mr Megrahi was sentenced to a minimum term of 25 years in 2001 for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 which exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing 270 people.
Reports suggest he may have weeks to live after being diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer.
The Libyan had been half-way through his second appeal against his 2001 conviction and has always maintained his innocence.
Scottish government officials have so far insisted that no decision has been made to release Mr Megrahi, but the dropping of the appeal would seem to be yet another indicator that his release is imminent.
On Thursday it was reported that Scottish authorities were preparing to free Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds.
However, in order to do so, the Scottish courts would have to drop the Libyan's current appeal against his sentence.
Mr Megrahi was sentenced to a minimum term of 25 years in 2001 for the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 which exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing 270 people.
Reports suggest he may have weeks to live after being diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer.
The Libyan had been half-way through his second appeal against his 2001 conviction and has always maintained his innocence.
Scottish government officials have so far insisted that no decision has been made to release Mr Megrahi, but the dropping of the appeal would seem to be yet another indicator that his release is imminent.
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