The British government has offered further reassurances to Libya about the conditions in which two Libyans suspected of carrying out the Lockerbie bombing would serve a prison sentence if they are convicted.

Libya has been demanding that the two men should not serve any prison sentences in Scotland -- something which Britain and the United States have been insisting on.

Britain said today it was prepared to make special arrangements for the prisoners, and that there would be an international observer regime to ensure that they were treated properly.

The move is the latest in a prolonged diplomatic dispute over the bombing of an American airliner over Scotland, which killed two-hundred-and-seventy people.

The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan has said that he may travel to Tripoli in the next few days to discuss the Lockerbie issue.