Labour leader Joseph Muscat has made a tangible effort to close one of the darkest chapters in Maltese political history by holding a short private meeting with two of the brothers of slain Nationalist activist Raymond Caruana.

The media were not informed of the meeting, which took place at the La Stella Band Club in Gudja last Thursday.

Sources said last Thursday's encounter, which lasted around 10 minutes and held during a walkabout of Gudja, was not premeditated: "Both Dr Muscat and the brothers (Albert and Tarċisio) knew that the other would be present, but no appointments had been made."

It is believed Dr Muscat, who took over as party leader last June, has been trying to fix a meeting with relatives of Mr Caruana in a bid to build bridges outside his party.

The Labour leader later paid a visit to the PN club where 26-year-old Mr Caruana was shot dead on December 5, 1986, as he was celebrating at a reception marking the opening of the club.

The weapon was allegedly fired by an individual taking part in a Labour Party carcade who aimed his submachine gun at the club façade. Thirteen shots were fired at the club from a passing car, shattering a glass door and killing Mr Caruana. No one was ever convicted of the murder.

When contacted yesterday, Dr Muscat said: "All I can say is that the Labour Party is not harbouring anybody. Justice needs to be done in this and other cases such as the Karin Grech murder. It is only then that wounds will be healed once and for all. We need to close this dark chapter. Politically, this week is better than last week," Dr Muscat said.

John Azzopardi, brother-in-law of the victim, yesterday told The Sunday Times on behalf of the Caruana family: "We're not looking for revenge, but for justice. At least it seems that the Labour Party is recognising it was a political killing."

Mr Azzopardi said the family would also have appreciated Dr Muscat's presence during the annual remembrance Mass held last Sunday.

"But if Labour is really redeeming itself, maybe we'll see Dr Muscat attend the same Mass next year."

Mr Caruana's murder was the culmination of five years of violence where hardcore Socialist supporters went on a rampage to silence the Nationalist opposition, often with the blessing of the police force.

Then Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici had visited the family shortly after the murder, but the visit was eclipsed by the frame-up of Pietru Pawl Busuttil.

Former Labour leader Alfred Sant had also placed flowers on Mr Caruana's grave.