McVeigh stay of execution sought

Timothy McVeigh: On death row in Indiana

Timothy McVeigh's lawyers are planning to seek a stay of execution for the man convicted of the Oklahoma bombings.

They plan to go to the federal court in Denver on Thursday to ask Judge Matsch to stay his execution, the US TV network ABC said.

McVeigh's lawyers say that documents recently released by the FBI would bolster any appeal for a delay in his execution.

US Attorney-General John Ashcroft has said the documents contained no evidence to delay the execution further.

'Evidence withheld'

One of the defence lawyers, Rob Nigh, is quoted as saying the execution must be halted if allegations the FBI withheld key evidence proved to be true.

McVeigh faces death by lethal injection.

He was reacting to a claim made by a former FBI agent, Rick Ojeda, on the US TV programme 60 Minutes II to be aired on Tuesday.

Mr Ojeda alleged that material he personally collected was not handed to the defense team even though it could have helped them.

Three other agents also appear on the show discussing evidence that was allegedly withheld.

Hunt for John Doe 2

The documents include information about the FBI's search for an alleged accomplice known as John Doe 2, who never materialised.

McVeigh claims he acted alone when he blew up the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building in 1995, killing 168 people, including 19 children.

Mr Ashcroft ordered a one-month delay to the execution after the FBI admitted that it had discovered the documents which had not been disclosed to the defence during McVeigh's trial in 1997.

Mr Ashcroft warned that the government would fight any attempts by McVeigh's lawyers to avoid his execution.

McVeigh is on death row at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he faces death by lethal injection.