Scottish government officials have confirmed that the prisoner transfer request that would return Abdelbaset Ali Mohmad Al Megrahi to Libya came with Megrahi's "consent", verifying that his ongoing appeal is to be dropped.

Officials said they understood the application was made with Megrahi's consent, which crucially suggests he no longer wanted to proceed with his appeal.

Authorities in Scotland have thus far maintained that Megrahi could not be returned to his family who had relocated in Scotland on compassionate grounds, whilst he was appealing his conviction.

"The application has been made on his behalf and we're duty bound to consider it, and that is what we will do," a Scottish government spokeswoman said.

"Under the prisoner transfer agreement, an application can be made without the prisoner's consent, but our information is that this has been done on his behalf, so that's not the situation we are in."

Megrahi's original conviction - whilst demonstrably unsound- would therefore stand.