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Libya HIV death sentences upheld Libya HIV death sentences upheld
(about 1 hour later)
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.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.
However, a mediating body - the Gaddafi Foundation - has reportedly agreed a financial settlement with the children's families.However, a mediating body - the Gaddafi Foundation - has reportedly agreed a financial settlement with the children's families.
This could see the death penalties overturned by Libya's High Judicial Council at a later date.This could see the death penalties overturned by Libya's High Judicial Council at a later date.
The imprisonment of the medics has caused an international outcry.The imprisonment of the medics has caused an international outcry.
TRIAL IN DATES May 2004: Libya convicts and sentences the medics to death for infecting children with HIVDec 2005: Libyan Supreme Court overturns the convictions and orders a retrialDec 2006: Medics are sentenced to death a second timeFeb 2007: Medics appeal to the Libyan Supreme CourtJune 2007: Top EU officials hold talks in Libya to try to secure the medics' release11 July 2007: Libya's Supreme Court upholds death sentences Timeline: Medics trial TRIAL IN DATES May 2004: Libya convicts and sentences the medics to death for infecting children with HIVDec 2005: Libyan Supreme Court overturns the convictions and orders a retrialDec 2006: Medics are sentenced to death a second timeFeb 2007: Medics appeal to the Libyan Supreme CourtJune 2007: Top EU officials hold talks in Libya to try to secure the medics' release11 July 2007: Libya's Supreme Court upholds death sentences Timeline: Medics trial
They insist they are innocent of deliberately giving tainted blood to the children at the Benghazi hospital in 1998.They insist they are innocent of deliberately giving tainted blood to the children at the Benghazi hospital in 1998.
The Libyan parents' spokesman Idriss Lagha - himself a father of one of the victims - confirmed that a final deal had been reached with all the interested parties involved, including the European Union and the Libyan government.
Mr Lagha has said details of this deal will be made in the coming hours or days.
The BBC's Rana Jawad, in Tripoli, says any financial settlement with the families of the infected children means they will drop their rights to pursue the death penalty.
However, this latest settlement does signal a near end to this eight-year saga, our correspondent adds.
Diplomatic efforts
In recent months, the European Union has stepped up diplomatic efforts to have the medics freed.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.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. On the Libyan side, the families of the infected children have demanded the maximum punishment.
Diplomatic 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 foreign medics 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.
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 Eastern Europe reporter 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. Fifty-six of the 438 children infected with tainted blood at the Benghazi hospital have since died.