The Justice for Megrahi committee, originators of the international petition calling for a full inquiry into the entire Pan Am 103 debacle from 1988 to the present, have announced that they have commenced the launch of an action via the Holyrood public petitions mechanism, to request the Scottish Parliament to initiate action.

The petitions mechanism was launched to allow the public to directly access the legislative process without relying on an MSP to raise proceedings, in theory thereby bypassing potential party political blockades.

Both the Holyrood Parliament and the UK Parliament at Westminster have stated that they would cooperate with such an inquiry, but both have signalled that they believe it is the responsibility of the other Parliament to launch it.

Last week, following his return from Tripoli where he met with Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, Dr Jim Swire announced that the UK families of victims of the Pan Am 103 would resurrect the appeal dropped by Megrahi, evidently under pressure and the mistaken belief that it would assist his return to Libya.

He also added that Megrahi's own daughter had become a fully qualified lawyer since his incarceration. It is not yet known if she will play an active part in the resurrected appeal proceedings.