The people of Lockerbie were praised for their dignity by First Minister Alex Salmond as they prepared to mark the 20th anniversary of the Pan Am bombing.

Mr Salmond yesterday paid tribute to the community of the town where a series of events will be held on Sunday in memory of the 270 lives which were lost in the tragedy.

Speaking at First Minister's Questions, Mr Salmond told MSPs: "I know the chamber will want to join me in recalling that Sunday December 21 marks the 20th anniversary of the Lockerbie air disaster.

"The community in Lockerbie will be observing the anniversary with a dignified programme of events to mark the occasion.

"Our thoughts are with them and all those whose lives have been affected by this atrocity."

Mr Salmond's comments coincided with the latest stage in the appeal of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, who has always maintained that he was wrongly convicted of the 1988 bombing.

Megrahi's solicitor Tony Kelly said after yesterday's hearing at the Appeal Court in Edinburgh that the appointment of a special advocate to consider controversial secret documents had been confirmed.

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