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Libya revokes HIV death sentences | Libya revokes HIV death sentences |
(about 5 hours later) | |
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. | 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. |
The High Judicial Council ruling came after the families of the 438 children agreed a compensation deal reportedly worth $1m (£500,000) per child. | |
Talks are expected to open on Wednesday on the transfer of the six to Bulgaria. | |
The five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor, who were convicted in 2004, maintain their innocence. | |
Libya's foreign minister said Tripoli was willing to consider the medics' transfer to Bulgaria but that it would take place in "the legal framework and political context" between the two countries. | |
"There is a legal co-operation agreement between Libya and Bulgaria, and we don't mind that the Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor benefit from it," Abdel-Rahman Shalqam told the Associated Press news agency. | |
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 |
He added that the conditions of the infected children and their families should be a consideration in the transfer deal. | |
Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said negotiations on the transfer of the six prisoners to Sofia would begin on Wednesday. | Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said negotiations on the transfer of the six prisoners to Sofia would begin on Wednesday. |
"This decision is a big step in the right direction... For us the case will end once they come back to Bulgaria," he said. | |
The Palestinian doctor has been granted Bulgarian citizenship to allow him to benefit from any transfer deal. | |
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. |
'Deflecting criticism' | '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 payout is reportedly coming from an international fund which the Libyan government, the European Union and other organisations are contributing to. | The payout is reportedly coming from an international fund which the Libyan government, the European Union and other organisations are contributing to. |
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. |