In Saudi Arabia we don't have a secretive court or secretive trial

Lawyer Saleh al-Hujailan

Reports also say James Lee from Cardiff and James Cottle from Manchester were sentenced to 18 years in prison.

But the lawyer representing the Britons told BBC Scotland his clients had not yet been sentenced.

Meanwhile a Labour MSP said officials were continuing discussions with the Saudi government.

Preparing case

Speaking from Saudi Arabia, lawyer Saleh al-Hujailan said if sentences had been recommended by the public prosecutor this did not amount to a judgement.

Briton Christopher Rodway died in the attack

He had been asked to prepare the men's defence in anticipation of a trial within three to four weeks although a final judgement might be a couple of months away.

He described the reports about the sentence as "premature."

"I must say that in Saudi Arabia we don't have a secretive court or secretive trial," he told the BBC.

"If there has been a recommendation of a death sentence by the public prosecution this is not a judgment as everybody should know."

Mr al-Hujailan is also representing two other Britons Pete Brandon, thought to be from Wales and Les Walker, from the Wirral, as well as Scottish-born Canadian William Sampson.

He is due to meet his clients on Sunday.

Discussions ongoing

Brian Fitzpatrick, MSP for Glasgow Strathkelvin and Bearsden, said Foreign Office and Commonwealth officials were continuing discussions with the Saudi government.

Mr Fitzpatrick: Hopeful of a diplomatic resolution

He told BBC News: "I am deeply concerned about these reports."

"I am quite hopeful that there are ongoing judicial processes rather than processes coming to an end."

"Even if it were the case that the situation is as grim as some of these reports suggest that there would be opportunities for pleas for clemency."

But he said these reports were as of yet unconfirmed.

"We shouldn't necessarily think that there has been a failure of diplomacy yet."

In a statement the Foreign Office said officials were also "deeply concerned about the men's situation".

"But there is still an ongoing judicial process and we, the majority of the men's families and their lawyers, continue to believe that it is not in the best interests of the men to raise their profile publicly. We must respect that," said the statement.

Confessions withdrawn

The Daily Mail reported that Mr Mitchell, 44, from Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow, had been sentenced to death after a summary trial without lawyers.

Further reports in the Guardian suggested 40-year-old Mr Lee and 51-year-old Mr Cottle had been sentenced to 18 years in jail for alleged involvement in the bombing campaign.

The paper said that Mr Sampson had also been sentenced to death.

And Belgian Raf Schyvens, was said to have been given an eight year sentence, according to the Guardian.

Mr Mitchell was seen on Saudi television confessing to his part in a bombing campaign that killed Briton Christopher Rodway in the capital, Riyadh, two years ago and injured several others.

But they later withdrew their confessions amid claims that they had been tortured.