The Crown Office have confirmed that their appeal against the 27 year tariff imposed against Abelbaset Ali Mohmad Al Megrahi is still live, and have indicated they have no plans to drop it, despite Megrahi abandoning his appeal against conviction.

"The Crown's appeal against sentence remains live," a Crown "communications manager" said.

In a subsequent statement, the Crown Office claimed to have been unaware of any interest from the Scottish Government about the progress of their appeal against the "leniency" of the sentence.

In terms of the specially negotiated prisoner transfer agreement, all legal proceedings would need to have ceased before a transfer could be considered.

"The Lord Advocate has not received any request from the Scottish Government to intimate whether the Crown's appeal against sentence will continue," the statement said.

"Furthermore, the Lord Advocate has not received any information on Mr Megrahi's current medical condition that she would require to take into account in order to make such a decision. The Lord Advocate has always been prepared to give any request her full and prompt consideration."