Europe condemns execution sentences in the AIDS case in Libya: Six Bulgarians, one Palestinian
Libya-European Union, Politics, 5/7/2004

The Bulgarian government strongly condemned the sentence of the court of cassation in Benghazi in Libya to execute one doctor and five female nurses from Bulgaria and one Palestinian doctor over being condemned of transferring deliberately the HIV Virus which causes AIDS to Libyan children.

The Bulgarian minister of justice, Antone Stankov, called on Sofia's partners in the European Union, the NATO and the USA for a strong reaction to the sentence. He said in a press conference that his country will not accept the verdict which he described as repressive and based on no evidence.

Well-informed sources said that the Bulgarian government hopes of the interference of the Libya leader Muammar al-Qathafi to issuing a pardon for the accused persons in the course of his efforts to improve relations with Europe.

For its part, the European commission expressed its concern over the sentence. Its President Romano Prodi expressed the need of reaching a quick and just settlement for the case.

In Dublin, the Irish foreign minister whose country presides over the rotating presidency of the European Union told the Libyan (foreign minister) Abdul Rahman Shalqam that the sentence is a " very negative surprise." The question of the accused Bulgarians was raised during the historic visit held by the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi to the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels last week. Libya is taking part in the Euro- Mediterranean dialogue as an observer and is seeking to be a full member in the Euro- Mediterranean Partnership.

In Benghazi, scores of the families of children who are infected by AIDS gathered in front of the court to celebrate the issuance of the verdict which came five years after disclosing the case.

The accused persons were convicted over transferring HIV virus to 426 Libyan children in a children's hospital in Benghazi, 43 of them died. The persons were accused of transferring the disease to the Libyan children in the course of experiments to reach a medical treatment for AIDS.

Previous Stories:
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  Al-Qaddafi, Prodi discuss prospects of European- African cooperation   (5/8/2002)

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