Hope for nurses condemned to death in Libya

LIBYA: Bulgarian officials are trying to temper growing optimism that five nurses condemned to death in Libya for infecting 426 children with HIV may be given a reprieve on Christmas Day.

Washington and the EU have condemned the case, in which testimony from international HIV experts exonerating the nurses and a Palestinian doctor was ignored, and the medics claimed confessions were elicited through torture.

Their last court appeal was postponed, allowing relatives of the infected children to discuss a possible solution with groups representing the nurses and officials from the EU and charities close to the Libyan leadership.

But hopes grew that the medics' seven-year ordeal may be nearly over when their next court hearing was unexpectedly brought forward a month to December 25th.

"I do not know if this is a gesture towards Bulgaria," said foreign minister Ivailo Kalfin.

"I wouldn't rule out that final sentence will be passed then," he said, adding that consultations ahead of the hearing would take place with US and EU officials who are pushing for a resolution to the case.

They have warned President Muammar Gadafy that it risks Libya's rapprochement with the West, and are believed to be preparing a package of aid for the infected children and their families in return for the release of the six detainees.

Analysts say Col Gadafy is loath to simply release the medics and risk enraging the already hostile city of Benghazi, while also making a tacit admission that his courts and hospitals have made grave mistakes; HIV experts say poor hygiene was probably to blame for the outbreak in a Benghazi hospital.

Chief defence lawyer Othman Bizanti said the appeal had been brought forward "in response to the defence demand based on the health and psychological conditions of the defendants, who see their cases taking more than seven years. I believe the court will conclude the hearing of December 25th by announcing January 31st as the date for pronouncing its ruling on the appeals."

Relatives of the infected children - about 50 of whom have already died - have been quoted as saying they want lifetime medical care for the surviving victims and financial compensation, while denying that a deal has been reached.

On a visit to Dublin this month, President Georgi Parvanov said Bulgaria had the full backing of the Taoiseach and President Mary McAleese in trying to win the nurses' freedom.