While lawyers in the US and UK are working to win a reprieve for Suffolk-born Jackie Elliot, a man who has spent over 16 years protesting his innocence on Texas's death row, human rights campaigners will hold a solemn vigil at Westminster Abbey.

The vigil is likely to attract the support of British politicians, with over 120 MPs having signed an early day motion against the execution.

Kevin McNamara MP (Labour) and John Gummer MP (Conservative), for instance, have both recently spoken out against the execution. Mr Gummer's constituency includes Mr Elliot's Felixstowe birthplace.

The US state of Texas has one of the highest execution rates in the world and is set to execute its 300th prisoner since 1982 within weeks. In 2002 there were 33 executions in Texas, accounting for almost half of the 71 executions in the US.

Further information about Jackie Elliot's case...

Further information about Amnesty International's campaign against the death penalty is also online. /p>