CHRONOLOGY: Key dates in Lockerbie bombing case

(Reuters) - Scotland's High Court must hear a new appeal by Libyan intelligence agent Abdel Basset al-Megrahi against his conviction for the 1988 Lockerbie airliner bombing, an independent review body said on Thursday.

Megrahi, a Libyan intelligence agent, is serving a life sentence in a Scottish prison after being found guilty of killing 270 people in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.

Following are key dates in the case.

Dec 21, 1988 - Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York blows up over Scotland four days before Christmas, killing all 259 people aboard the Boeing 747 jumbo jet and 11 residents of the town of Lockerbie.

Nov 14, 1991 - United States and Britain accuse Libyans Megrahi and Al-Amin Khalifa Fahima of involvement.

March 31, 1992 - U.N. Security Council Resolution 748 tells Libya to surrender the suspects. Libya refuses and sanctions are imposed on April 15.

April 21, 1998 - After years of wrangling between Libya, Britain and the United States, suspects' Libyan lawyer says he agrees with victims' families on a trial in the Netherlands under Scottish law.

Aug 24 - United States, Britain and the Netherlands agree to that plan and receive Security Council backing three days later.

April 6, 1999 - Suspects appear before court at former U.S. base, Camp Zeist, and are charged with the bombing and 270 murders.

April 20 - European Union suspends sanctions against Libya, although United States continues to apply similar measures.

May 3, 2000 - Trial begins at Camp Zeist with defense suggesting two Palestinian groups were responsible for the bombing.

Jan 31, 2001 - The three judges unanimously find Megrahi guilty of murder and acquit Fahima. Megrahi gets mandatory life sentence.

Feb 5 - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi says Libya is innocent and that U.S. investigators manipulated evidence. Washington and London say Gaddafi failed to meet conditions for permanent cancellation of U.N. sanctions.

Feb 28, 2002 - Gaddafi's son says Libya will pay compensation to families of the victims even if Megrahi is acquitted on appeal.

March 14 - Judges turn down Megrahi's appeal, upholding his murder conviction.

March 11, 2003 - Libya reaches political agreement with the United States and Britain to accept civil responsibility for the bombing and pay up to $10 million per victim, or about $2.7 billion in total.