Spy's court date on hold

A new search of CIA papers will take place

A Libyan spy's long-awaited appearance at the Lockerbie trial is not likely to happen for another month.

Defence and prosecution lawyers have been involved in heated discussions surrounding the possible appearance of Abdul Majid Giaka.

It is thought he will not take the stand until a new search has been completed of CIA files, which are said to have recorded Giaka's activities while he operated as a double agent.

When the defence team complained that the documents - which included telegrams of interviews between the CIA and Giaka - had been censored, the Crown asked for a new, more complete set to be issued.

Trial details

The two accused are Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, 48, and Al Amin Khalifa Fhimah, 44

Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie on 21 December, 1988, killing all 259 people on board and another 11 on the ground

The two men deny three charges - murder, conspiracy to murder and a breach of the 1982 Aviation Security Act

The trial is taking place in a Scottish courtroom at Camp Zeist, in the Netherlands

The case is being heard by three Scottish judges

But the lawyers acting on behalf of the two Libyans accused of the 1988 bombing believe further cables may exist.

On Wednesday, Lord Advocate Colin Boyd told the Scottish Court in the Netherlands that the CIA had agreed to a further search, concentrating on information given by Giaka about the two accused.

Mr Boyd said the trawl could take two weeks.

He added that he wanted a further two weeks for any documents to be reviewed, and for "a very large number" of sensitive witnesses to be re-assembled.

Documents already given to the defence reveal that Giaka, whose codename was P1, was paid a monthly salary of $1,000 (£666), but that his handlers were considering stopping payments unless he came up with more information on the Libyan Intelligence Services.

The material also referred to Giaka's apparent opposition to the Gadaffi regime in Libya and stated he was a distant relation of King Idris, who was deposed by Colonel Gadaffi in a military coup in 1969.

The Crown hopes other evidence relating to the case can be heard next week.

The case continues.