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Sarkozy to boost EU-Libya links Sarkozy to boost EU-Libya links
(about 2 hours later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is travelling to Tripoli to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a day after the release of six foreign medics.French President Nicolas Sarkozy is travelling to Tripoli to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a day after the release of six foreign medics.
The meeting is being seen as a sign of the normalisation of ties between Libya and the EU following the release.The meeting is being seen as a sign of the normalisation of ties between Libya and the EU following the release.
The foreign workers were held years for infecting children with HIV. The foreign workers were held for eight years for infecting children with HIV.
The five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian-born doctor, who served eight years of their life sentences, always maintained they were innocent.The five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian-born doctor, who served eight years of their life sentences, always maintained they were innocent.
All six were pardoned on their arrival in Sofia by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov.All six were pardoned on their arrival in Sofia by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov.
Immigration supportImmigration support
Europe and the US had made it clear to Libya that resolving their situation was the key to improving ties.Europe and the US had made it clear to Libya that resolving their situation was the key to improving ties.
Mr Sarkozy wants to further Libyan help in the fight against terrorism, says the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris.Mr Sarkozy wants to further Libyan help in the fight against terrorism, says the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris.
HAVE YOUR SAY Gaddafi has used these poor innocent medics as bargaining chips to get something out of the EU... And he succeeded. Marc Saurel, Montreal, Canada Have your say: Libya medics Profiles: The medicsHAVE YOUR SAY Gaddafi has used these poor innocent medics as bargaining chips to get something out of the EU... And he succeeded. Marc Saurel, Montreal, Canada Have your say: Libya medics Profiles: The medics
And he wants more support in to stem the flow of illegal immigrants crossing into southern Europe from North Africa.And he wants more support in to stem the flow of illegal immigrants crossing into southern Europe from North Africa.
He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux.He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux.
The Libyan Foreign Minister, Abdullah Shalqam, said that Mr Sarkozy's visit would give them a chance to discuss the French president's proposal for a Mediterranean union.The Libyan Foreign Minister, Abdullah Shalqam, said that Mr Sarkozy's visit would give them a chance to discuss the French president's proposal for a Mediterranean union.
Mr Sarkozy had made securing the medics' freedom a foreign policy priority since taking office in May.Mr Sarkozy had made securing the medics' freedom a foreign policy priority since taking office in May.
His wife, Cecilia Sarkozy, played a last-minute role in securing that release, which followed an agreement on normalising relations with the EU.His wife, Cecilia Sarkozy, played a last-minute role in securing that release, which followed an agreement on normalising relations with the EU.
The US-based rights' group Human Rights Watch welcomed their release, but warned that torture and other rights abuses in Libya remained a concern.The US-based rights' group Human Rights Watch welcomed their release, but warned that torture and other rights abuses in Libya remained a concern.
"The absence of a free press, the mistreatment of detainees and the need for legal reform require urgent international attention," the group said in a statement."The absence of a free press, the mistreatment of detainees and the need for legal reform require urgent international attention," the group said in a statement.