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Libya to rule on HIV medics case Libya HIV death sentences upheld
(about 6 hours later)
Libya's Supreme Court is due to rule on the case of foreign medics on death row for infecting 438 children with HIV. Libya's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentences imposed in 2004 on five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor for infecting children with HIV.
Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor have said they are innocent of giving tainted blood to the children at the Benghazi hospital in 1998. However, a mediating body - the Gaddafi Foundation - has reportedly agreed a financial settlement with the children's families.
The court is expected to uphold their death sentences but may leave a final decision to the High Judicial Council. This could see the death penalties overturned by Libya's High Judicial Council at a later date.
The sentences may be commuted in exchange for a compensation package for the children's families. The imprisonment of the medics has caused an international outcry.
Fifty-six of the 438 children infected with tainted blood at the Benghazi hospital in 1998 have since died. They insist they are innocent of deliberately giving tainted blood to the children at the Benghazi hospital in 1998.
In recent months, the European Union has stepped up diplomatic efforts to have the medics freed.
The United States has also been involved, with President George W Bush appealing for their release in June.
Fifty-six of the 438 children infected with tainted blood at the Benghazi hospital have since died.
Diplomatic effortsDiplomatic efforts
The six medics were found guilty and sentenced to death twice, first in 2004 and again in 2006 following a court appeal.The six medics were found guilty and sentenced to death twice, first in 2004 and again in 2006 following a court appeal.
It is their final appeal in the case which has gripped public attention in both Libya and Bulgaria.It is their final appeal in the case which has gripped public attention in both Libya and Bulgaria.
During their trial, one of the doctors who helped first isolate the HIV virus, Luc Montagnier, testified that the hospital epidemic began before the accused started working at the hospital. During their trial, one of the doctors who helped first isolate the HIV virus, Luc Montagnier, testified that the hospital epidemic began before the foreign medics started working at the hospital.
In recent months, the European Union has stepped up diplomatic efforts to have the medics freed.
The United States has also been involved, with President George W Bush appealing for the release of the medics in June.
On the Libyan side, the families of the infected children have demanded the maximum punishment.On the Libyan side, the families of the infected children have demanded the maximum punishment.
The government in Tripoli is caught between its wish to repair ties with the West and to defend its own legal system, the BBC's Nick Thorpe says.The government in Tripoli is caught between its wish to repair ties with the West and to defend its own legal system, the BBC's Nick Thorpe says.
After the court's ruling, Libya's High Judicial Council could still order the medics release.
That would be the subject to an agreement on an international fund to provide compensation and medical care for the children.
On Tuesday, the Gaddafi Foundation - which has been a mediator in the case - said that a financial settlement had been reached to end "the crisis".
The foundation said the deal was acceptable to all parties, promising to give more details later on Wednesday.