The Libyan man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing has formally dropped the second appeal against his conviction for the attack that killed 270 people.
Terminally-ill Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi is serving a life sentence after being convicted in 2001 of the 1988 atrocity.
Three judges at the High Court in Edinburgh today accepted his bid to formally drop his appeal amid growing speculation that he could be freed within days.
Lord Hamilton, Scotland's most-senior judge, said he agreed to al-Megrahi's request to withdraw his appeal, but said there were still legal hurdles to be negotiated before the appeal process could be completely dropped.
The court is expected to meet again in three weeks' time to finalise the closing of the appeal process.
