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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bulgarian medics in final appeal | Bulgarian medics in final appeal |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Libya's Supreme Court has begun hearing a final appeal by six foreign medical workers sentenced to death for infecting children with HIV. | |
| Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor say they are innocent of giving tainted blood to 438 children. | |
| While the court is expected to uphold the verdicts, a deal on the medics' future is expected to be soon agreed. | While the court is expected to uphold the verdicts, a deal on the medics' future is expected to be soon agreed. |
| It is thought that the sentences may be commuted in exchange for a compensation package for the children's families. | It is thought that the sentences may be commuted in exchange for a compensation package for the children's families. |
| Fifty-six of the 438 children given tainted blood at the Benghazi hospital in 1998 have since died. | |
| Poor hygiene | Poor hygiene |
| The medics have argued that poor hygiene was to blame for the infections. | The medics have argued that poor hygiene was to blame for the infections. |
| During their trial, one of the doctors who helped first isolate the HIV virus, Luc Montagnier, testified that the hospital epidemic began before the accused started working at the hospital. | During their trial, one of the doctors who helped first isolate the HIV virus, Luc Montagnier, testified that the hospital epidemic began before the accused started working at the hospital. |
| But the six were found guilty and sentenced to death twice, first in 2004 and again in 2006 following a court appeal. | But the six were found guilty and sentenced to death twice, first in 2004 and again in 2006 following a court appeal. |
| This hearing will be their final appeal in a case which has gripped public attention in both Libya and Bulgaria. | This hearing will be their final appeal in a case which has gripped public attention in both Libya and Bulgaria. |
| The European Union and US have both been involved in the talks over a possible deal. | The European Union and US have both been involved in the talks over a possible deal. |
| During a visit to Bulgaria last week, US President George W Bush appealed for the release of the medics. | During a visit to Bulgaria last week, US President George W Bush appealed for the release of the medics. |
| On Tuesday, Bulgaria announced that it had granted citizenship to the Palestinian doctor, ensuring that he would be part of any deal reached after the verdict. | On Tuesday, Bulgaria announced that it had granted citizenship to the Palestinian doctor, ensuring that he would be part of any deal reached after the verdict. |