Wreckage from Flight 103

Trio Claim Lockerbie Progress

He was accompanied on his trip by the former Tory MP, Sir Cyril Townsend, and Dr Jim Swire, spokesman of the British Flight 103 Families Group, whose daughter was among the 270 people who died in the explosion.

Dr Swire thinks the talks in Libya may have helped to break the deadlock over where a trial might take place.

Jim Swire speaking on Today

All three have previously travelled to Libya to discuss the impasse over the two suspects. Libya has refused to release them for trial except to a court in Scotland, a "neutral" country, or a court in a Muslim state.

Lord Steel said: "We feel that some progress has been made in bringing the two accused to trial." However he did not wish to discuss details of the visit or make further comment because of the sensitive nature of the issue.

Dr Swire bemoaned the "remarkable reluctance" of the US and UK authorities to facilitate a trial of the two men suspected of the 1988 bombing under the compromise offered by the Libyans. But he hoped the new Labour Government would be more amenable than the previous Conservative administration.

Alistair Duff, the solicitor in Scotland who is acting for the two accused Libyans, said he thought that the four year deadlock may at last be broken.

Alistair Duff interviewed on Today Duration 2'30"