The Libyan government has asked for the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing to be transferred from Scotland, a prospect which would crush an ongoing trial where the Maltese connection is expected to be thrown into doubt.

The application has been made by the Libyan government and it is not yet clear whether former Libyan intelligence agent Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, 57, subscribes to it.

If he is transferred, he would have to renounce the ongoing appeal.

Attempts to contact his lawyer yesterday proved unsuccessful.

The Scottish government, which has the final say on the matter, confirmed it received the transfer request and said the application would be considered.

The request follows a prisoner transfer agreement ratified by the UK and Libyan governments last week. Under the terms of the agreement, the Scottish authorities are bound to a reach a decision within 90 days, even though there are exceptions which would mean it may take longer.

Mr al-Megrahi, who was the only person convicted for the terrorist attack, is terminally ill with prostate cancer and his condition is said to be deteriorating rapidly.

The bombing killed 270 people aboard Pan-Am flight 103, which exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie.

The former Libyan agent became the only person to be convicted for the atrocity in 2001. Malta became implicated as the place from where the bomb left before eventually being transferred on to the Pan Am flight in Frankfurt.

That judgment was again confirmed a year later but a second appeal was allowed by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, which ruled that Mr al-Megrahi's conviction might have been a miscarriage of justice.

But this evidence may never be put to the test if Mr al-Megrahi chooses to relinquish his appeal to take the transfer to Libya.

The father of 24-year-old victim Flora, Jim Swire, told The Times yesterday it remained unclear what would happen. "There has been no word yet and tomorrow morning (today) there is a hearing which is expected to go ahead, so I really can't tell whether he will be dropping his appeal," he said.

Dr Swire repeatedly expressed his sympathy with Mr al-Megrahi who he believes is innocent.

He had told The Sunday Times: "Put yourself in his shoes, what else would you do? I would go, and could not blame him if he does. He has told me before that he would rather clear his name before he goes home."

Mr al-Megrahi has a second option he could go for, which is to ask for bail again.

A request last year was turned down but Scottish judges had said at the time that he could apply again if his circumstances changed.

"Since then, his health deteriorated considerably, so there might be this option for him," Dr Swire said.

Whatever the case, if the appeal does fall through, Dr Swire will be calling for a full inquiry, which he believes would also be in Malta's interest.