WORLD briefs

SCOTLAND. Scottish officials said Thursday they were considering early release for the Lockerbie bomber — leading to sharp debate among victims' relatives in the US and Britain over whether he should be allowed to return home to Libya. British media reports say Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi will soon be freed on compassionate grounds because he is terminally ill with cancer. The possibility of an imminent release has reignited the fierce debate about whether justice has been done for victims of the attack that killed 270 people — most of them Americans. The Scottish government dismissed the reports that he would be released next week as speculation.

SPAIN. Spanish and Basque authorities have banned three protests marches called by groups linked to the armed group ETA in the northern cities Bilbao and San Sebastian. National Court Judge Baltasar Garzon has prohibited two protests in support of ETA prisoners planned for today and tomorrow in San Sebastian saying they constituted defense of terrorism.

THAILAND. Thailand's government will appeal against a court decision rejecting a US request for the extradition of Russian alleged arms dealer Viktor Bout, an official said Thursday. Bout, who has been dubbed the "Merchant of Death", has been fighting extradition since his March 2008 arrest in Bangkok while allegedly agreeing to supply missiles to Colombian rebels.

UNITED STATES. The Secret Service is investigating a man who authorities said held a sign reading "Death to Obama" outside a town hall meeting on health care reform in western Maryland. Barbara Golden, the special agent in charge of the agency's Baltimore field office, says an investigation is ongoing but declined further comment. Washington County Sheriff's Capt. Peter Lazich says the sign also read, "Death to Michelle and her two stupid kids."

FRANCE. A 16-year-old Corsican boy has confessed to shooting and killing his sleeping parents and 10-year-old twin brothers with a hunting rifle, officials said Thursday. Police found the four corpses in bloodied beds in the family home on the Mediterranean island after interviewing the teenager, said a police colonel. Police have not identified either him or the victims by name