Ten Long and Confusing Years Of Investigating Lockerbie

21 Dec 1988: Bomb explodes on PanAm 103 flying at 31,000ft, killing all 259 on board and 11 more as part of jet crashes on Lockerbie.

31 Jan 1989: US government reveals more than 100 flaws in airport security.

1 April: Lockerbie victims' committee called UK Families Flight 103 set up.

10 May 1990: PanAm reaches out-of-court settlement with Scottish families of dead.

16 Oct 1991: US Supreme Court rejects appeal for punitive damages against PanAm by relatives of victims.

14 Nov: Charges against Libyans Ali Basset al-Magrahi and al-Amin Khalifa Fhimah announced in Washington and Edinburgh.

15 Nov: Libya calls for international inquiry, offers to send dispute to neutral bodies.

22 Jan 1992: UN resolution urges Libya to comply with extradition or face sanctions.

31 March: UN tells Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi (left) to surrender suspects by 15 April or face worldwide ban on air travel and arms sales.

15 April: UN air and arms embargo takes effect.

8 April 1993: UN retains sanctions against Libya.

13 August: US, France and Britain threaten Libya with tougher sanctions by 1 October.

1 Oct: UN deadline for Libya to surrender the two suspects for trial expires.

2 Oct: Britain, France and the United States stiffen sanctions.

17 Feb 1994: Britain rejects offer by Libya to allow suspects to stand trial before Muslim court anywhere in the world.

23 March 1995: US offers $4m reward for information leading to arrest.

Nov: Families secure out-of-court settlements from PanAm's insurers.

April 1996: Libyan suspects agree to trial under Scottish law in neutral location.

10 July: UN sanctions begin to weaken.

Oct: Victim's father Jim Swire (centre) meets South African President, Nelson Mandela (right).

25 Oct: At Commonwealth conference in Edinburgh, Mr Mandela urges Britain and US to accept a trial in neutral state.

28 Oct: In Commons, Tony Blair insists Libyans should stand trial in Scotland.

20 April 1998: Mr Swire travels to Libya with Scottish law expert Professor Robert Black to broker terms of trial.

18 Aug: BAe reported to be negotiating aircraft deal with Libya.