A delegation of politicians from Northern Ireland have arrived in Libya ahead of talks about compensation for victims of IRA violence.
The three MPs and three members of the Lords have been invited by the Gadafy regime to discuss the legal attempts to secure redress for Libyan involvement in supplying the IRA with bomb-making equipment.
Among the cross-party group are DUP MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Nigel Dodds. They will meet Libya's minister for Europe and other officials.
Links between the IRA and Colonel Muammar Gadafy are thought to stretch back as far as 1972, and Libya is understood to have supplied the IRA with Czech-made Semtex in the 1980s.
"We will be putting the case directly to the Libyan government,” Mr Donaldson said before leaving. “We may not reach agreement at this stage, but we think it is right that we should have the opportunity to put the case for the victims."
The group - who will be in Libya until Monday - revealed they would be travelling earlier this month.
Although members of the victims' families were not invited on the trip, the fact that the trip is taking place was welcomed as a sign of progress in the long-running campaign.
Their lawyers said in a statement: "The victims view this as a significant step forward, as well as recognition by both countries that their plight will not be overlooked as Anglo-Libyan relations develop.
"They sincerely hope that, following the team's visit, Libya will review its position towards them and appreciate that they wish to visit Libya in the spirit of peace and reconciliation."
PA