THE Lockerbie bomber could be freed from a Scots jail within WEEKS - after being given less than six months to live.

Plans to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi - who has prostate cancer - are believed to be under way, allowing him to return to Libya to die with his family.

And it is thought the 56-year-old will not be made to serve any more time in jail in his home country.

Last night a source close to the case revealed: "We are sure that Megrahi will be a free man next month and return to Libya.

"His cancer is now at a very advanced stage and he doesn't have long left to live.

"He won't have his conviction quashed, but at least he will die at home with his family and not alone in a Scottish prison."

Megrahi is serving life in Greenock Prison for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which killed 270 people.

Judges will make an announcement on July 7 after hearing the first of six stages of his second appeal.

They are unlikely to quash his conviction, but our source said Megrahi will wait for their announcement before requesting to be transferred home under the prisoner transfer agreement. He said: "The Libyans have already made the request for the transfer and privately, it has been accepted.

"All that's required is for Megrahi to say that he is willing to abandon his appeal and he will be allowed home."

Under the agreement, finalised by the UK government in December 2007, Megrahi will initially be transferred to a prison in Libya.

But once there it will only require two doctors to confirm that he may have just three months to live for him to be freed. The source added: "The authorities will make sure this happens immediately.

"Once free from his cell in Scotland he probably won't spend another night of his life in jail."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "An application for transfer of Mr Megrahi was received from the Libyan government on May 5. It is being considered in line with the prisoner transfer agreement."

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