Family of Lockerbie Bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi Launch Appeal Against Conviction

Relatives of the only man to have been convicted of the Lockerbie bombing have launched a legal bid to clear his name.

Family of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi want his conviction quashed for the 1998 terror outrage in Scotland which killed 270 people.

He was convicted in 2001 of the bombing, but always claimed he was innocent, after being jailed and then released from prison, eight years later.

Six of al-Megrahi's relations came to Glasgow to announce the new appeal. Speaking at a press conference, lawyer Aamer Anwar claimed the truth about the bombing "remains elusive".

He said: "The case being lodged this morning seeks to overturn the conviction of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi for murder.

"There were six significant grounds of referral back to the appeal court.

"We have a real basis and foundation for this case to be referred back to the appeal court."

Al-Megrahi dropped his appeal against the conviction, with some speculating it was part of a underhand deal which saw the Scottish parliament release him on compassionate grounds. Politicians in Scotland were left red-faced after he lived on for years, contradicting claims by the parliament he was terminally ill with cancer when he was freed.

Libya accepted responsibility for the bombings in 2003 and then-ruler Colonel Gadaffi paid compensation to victims' families.

Mr Anwar said: "I have confidence that the family members are not going to give up and will continue to fight.They will not give up the fight for justice.

"We have confidence in the SCCRC (Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission) - they did a tremendous job on the last occasion."

The SCCRC confirmed it had received an appeal from Megrahi's family to review his conviction.

Chris Reddick, director of corporate services, said: "If we believe that there may have been a miscarriage of justice, we will then send it to the Court of Appeal."