The Scottish Government has issued an unprompted statement to news agencies following the announcement that Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi is to drop his ongoing appeal, in which it explicitly states that the move by Megrahi is not connected to his prisoner transfer agreement.

On Wednesday, the Scottish Government issued a direct denial that any pressure had been applied on Megrahi to drop his appeal as a pre-condition of his release on compassionate grounds, following leaked information that Megrahi was being effectively blackmailed to do so. UN observer Dr Hans Kochler wrote explicitly to Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill warning him to avoid applying any pressure on Megrahi taht rekated his compassionate release to the drop of his appeal.

This afternoon however, following the dropping of the appeal, the Government has issued a blanket statement, linking the cessation of the appeal proceedings with the apparently unrelated decision -yet to be officially made- to repatriate Megrahi on either compassionate grounds or under the Prisoner Transfer Agreement.

"This is entirely a matter for the court, Mr Al Megrahi and his legal team," the Government said, unprompted.

"The Justice Secretary is continuing his considerations of both the applications before him, one under the UK/Libyan Prisoner Transfer Agreement, and the other on compassionate grounds. He expects to make a decision soon."