The Holyrood Parliament's Petitions Committee has agreed to refer the petition brought by the Justice for Megrahi Commitee seeking an inquiry into the Pan Am 103 debacle to the Justice Committee, with committee MSP Bill Walker saying the "'truth must come out".

"I am desperate that the truth of this whole matter should come out. The truth must come out and we must do everything in our power to help it come out," he said.

"This should go to the Justice Committee. This terrible thing happened a long time ago now and we must get to the truth sooner rather than later."

Professor Robert Black QC, one of the petitioners alongside Dr Jim Swire, Iain MckIe and Robert Forrester, said the elevation of the petition to the Justice Committee was a " stunning victory for the Justice for Megrahi campaign and for all of those who have supported its petition."

The Justice Committee is convened by Christine Grahame MSP, who has previously addressed some of the issues raised by the JFM Committee.