Among the party - who head for Africa on Saturday - are DUP MPs Jeffrey Donaldson and Nigel Dodds.

Labour MP Andrew McKinley, Lord Bew and Lord Brennan, who headed up the legal team fighting for justice for the Omagh families are also on the mission.

The delegation met with a Foreign Office team on Friday for a briefing and Mr Donaldson said there were high hopes the delegation could make progress.

He said: "We will be meeting with Minister Obidi, who is their European Minister.

"He is a personal appointment of Colonel Gaddafi and has been dealing with the Lockerbie case, therefore it's very significant that he is now dealing with the IRA victims."

The politicians fly to the Libyan capital Tripoli and will return on Monday.

Mr Donaldson said: "This trip is a major step forward in our campaign to secure proper recognition for the innocent victims of terrorism.

"While we do not expect that the matter will be settled on this occasion, it is significant that after many years the Libyans are now fully engaged in these discussions and we remain hopeful that a settlement can be secured.

"As part of the ongoing process we hope that Libya will also be willing to receive a delegation representing the victims themselves."