'Lockerbie bomber Megrahi could not have faked his cancer': UK oncologist Sikora

London, August 6 (ANI): Leading British oncologist Professor Karol Sikora, who examined Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, has agreed that the latter was released based on medical reports and could not have faked his illness.

"I am surprised he is still alive, you take into account the type of cancer he had, and the X-ray evidence that it had spread. The blood test for PSA (prostate specific antigen) was rising - everything pointed towards the fact that he had end-stage disease," the BBC quoted Sikora, Medical Director of Cancer Partners in UK, as saying.

Former prison doctor and writer Theodore Dalrymple agreed that it would be impossible for Megrahi to fake the severity of his disease.

"I don't think is possible to act respiratory failure or cancer, the reason you are suspicious is because you suspect prisoners might have been pulling the wool over your eyes," Dalrymple said.

He also stated that for people who are suffering from a terminal illness with death likely to occur soon, there are no fixed time limits but life expectancy of less than three months may be considered an appropriate period.

Last August, the Libyan was released from jail on compassionate grounds. However, Megrahi is still alive, although there are no current reports on his health.

His release provoked fury in the United States, where politicians are looking into claims that the release was linked to British Petroleum oil deals with Libya, a claim that had been denied later by UK.

Megrahi was jailed in 2001 for the 1988 bombing over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, which killed 270 people. (ANI)