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Libya revokes HIV death sentences Libya revokes HIV death sentences
(30 minutes 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. Death sentences on six foreign medics convicted of infecting Libyan children with HIV have been commuted to life in prison by Libya's top legal body.
Relatives of the 438 children had earlier dropped their demand for the death penalty, after accepting compensation worth $1m per child. Relatives of the 438 children earlier dropped their demand for the death penalty, after accepting compensation worth $1m (£500,000) per child.
Libya's High Judicial Council is expected to confirm the new sentences. The families' actions paved the way for the High Judicial Council ruling.
Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor were found guilty of starting an HIV epidemic in the 1990s.Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor were found guilty of starting an HIV epidemic in the 1990s.
They say they are innocent.They say they are innocent.
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
However Libya's Supreme Court last week upheld their 2004 death sentences, placing the medics fate with the High Judicial Council.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.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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6896231.stm">Profile of the medics class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6192439.stm">Timeline: Medics trial A top Libyan official announced the council's ruling but spoke on condition of anonymity as the decision had not yet been formally made public.
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 the case file will now be transferred to Libya's foreign ministry and a period of political dialogue between Bulgaria and Libya is expected to follow.
The deal indicates that it is highly unlikely that the death penalty verdicts will be upheld, she adds. Our correspondent says the two countries have an agreement on prisoner exchange but it remains to be seen whether the medical workers will be sent to Bulgaria to serve out their sentences.
'Deflecting criticism'
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.