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Libya revokes HIV death sentences | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The death sentences on foreign medics convicted of infecting Libyan children with HIV have been commuted to life in prison, a Libyan official has said. | |
Relatives of the 438 children had earlier dropped their demand for the death penalty, after accepting compensation worth $1m per child. | |
Libya's High Judicial Council is expected to confirm the new sentences. | |
Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor were found guilty of starting an HIV epidemic in the 1990s. | |
They say they are innocent. | |
However Libya's Supreme Court last week upheld their 2004 death sentences, placing the medics fate with the High Judicial Council. | |
The council, a semi-political body, has the power to commute sentences or issue pardons. | |
TRIAL IN DATES 1999: 19 Bulgarian medics and a Palestinian doctor are arrested at a Benghazi hospital after an outbreak of HIV/Aids among children. 13 are later freedMay 2004: Libya convicts and sentences five Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor for infecting children with HIV. A Bulgarian doctor is freedDec 2005: Libyan Supreme Court overturns the convictions and orders a retrialDec 2006: Medics 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 medics' release11 July 2007: Libya's Supreme Court upholds death sentences Profile of the medics Timeline: Medics trial | TRIAL IN DATES 1999: 19 Bulgarian medics and a Palestinian doctor are arrested at a Benghazi hospital after an outbreak of HIV/Aids among children. 13 are later freedMay 2004: Libya convicts and sentences five Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor for infecting children with HIV. A Bulgarian doctor is freedDec 2005: Libyan Supreme Court overturns the convictions and orders a retrialDec 2006: Medics 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 medics' release11 July 2007: Libya's Supreme Court upholds death sentences Profile of the medics Timeline: Medics trial |
The BBC's Rana Jawad, in the Libyan capital Tripoli, says that under Islamic law financial compensation offsets the death penalty. | The BBC's Rana Jawad, in the Libyan capital Tripoli, says that under Islamic law financial compensation offsets the death penalty. |
The deal indicates that it is highly unlikely that the death penalty verdicts will be upheld, she adds. | The deal indicates that it is highly unlikely that the death penalty verdicts will be upheld, she adds. |
At the weekend the medics signed a letter of request for pardon and mercy, as well as a document ruling out any further legal action against the Libyan state over the prison time they have so far served. | At the weekend the medics signed a letter of request for pardon and mercy, as well as a document ruling out any further legal action against the Libyan state over the prison time they have so far served. |
A spokesman for the relatives, Idriss Lagha, said that all the families had now received compensation. | A spokesman for the relatives, Idriss Lagha, said that all the families had now received compensation. |
The medics were convicted of deliberately injecting 438 children with HIV-tainted blood. Fifty-six children have since died. | The medics were convicted of deliberately injecting 438 children with HIV-tainted blood. Fifty-six children have since died. |
The six, who have been in prison since 1999, say they were tortured to confess. | The six, who have been in prison since 1999, say they were tortured to confess. |
Foreign experts say the infections started before the medics arrived at the hospital, and are more likely to have been a result of poor hygiene. | Foreign experts say the infections started before the medics arrived at the hospital, and are more likely to have been a result of poor hygiene. |
Bulgaria, its allies in the European Union, and the United States say Libya has used the case to deflect criticism from its run-down health service. | Bulgaria, its allies in the European Union, and the United States say Libya has used the case to deflect criticism from its run-down health service. |
They have also suggested that not freeing the nurses could carry a diplomatic price for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who is seeking to emerge from more than three decades of diplomatic isolation. | They have also suggested that not freeing the nurses could carry a diplomatic price for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who is seeking to emerge from more than three decades of diplomatic isolation. |