Ruling due over Lockerbie bomber

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Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has made his decision and will announce his decision on whether Megrahi, terminally ill with prostrate cancer, will return to Libya.

Megrahi successfully dropped his appeal against conviction on Tuesday amid mounting speculation he could be moved to Libya within days on compassionate grounds.

It has been speculated he could be on his way home to Libya as early as today - in time for Ramadan which begins on Friday.

Mr MacAskill has been considering two separate applications - one for Megrahi to be moved to Libya under a prisoner transfer agreement, and a separate application for him to be given compassionate early release to go home to die with his family.

Announcing his plans for a statement, the Scottish Government said he had reached his decisions on both - but did not say what they were.

"This fulfils the Justice Secretary's pledge to inform families on both sides of the Atlantic, in advance, of the timing of his public announcement," said the Scottish Government.

The timing of the announcement, at 1pm in Edinburgh, appeared to be designed with an American audience in mind. It takes place at 8am New York time - when it can expect wide breakfast-time media coverage.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said it would be "absolutely wrong" to release him.