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Libya to decide HIV medics' fate Libya to decide HIV medics' fate
(20 minutes later)
Libya's High Judicial Council is to meet to decide the fate of six foreign medics sentenced to death over the infection of Libyan children with HIV.Libya's High Judicial Council is to meet to decide the fate of six foreign medics sentenced to death over the infection of Libyan children with HIV.
The five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor, on death row since 2004, insist they are innocent.The five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor, on death row since 2004, insist they are innocent.
The country's Supreme Court last week upheld the death sentences, placing the final decision in the council's hands.The country's Supreme Court last week upheld the death sentences, placing the final decision in the council's hands.
But the EU is said to be confident a deal to free the six is close after a compensation package was agreed.But the EU is said to be confident a deal to free the six is close after a compensation package was agreed.
Tainted bloodTainted blood
Under the agreement, reached after frantic negotiations between officials from Libya, Bulgaria and the EU, each of the children's families would receive $1m (£0.49m).Under the agreement, reached after frantic negotiations between officials from Libya, Bulgaria and the EU, each of the children's families would receive $1m (£0.49m).
The council, which meets monthly to review death penalty sentences, can confirm, overturn or amend the Supreme Court's sentences.The council, which meets monthly to review death penalty sentences, can confirm, overturn or amend the Supreme Court's sentences.
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 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 href="/1/hi/world/africa/6896231.stm">Profile of the medics class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6192439.stm">Timeline: Medics trial
The BBC's Rana Jawad, in Tripoli, says any financial settlement or deal will have a major impact on the council's final decision.The BBC's Rana Jawad, in Tripoli, says any financial settlement or deal will have a major impact on the council's final decision.
Under Islamic law, she says, the families' decision to accept the compensation means they will drop their rights to pursue the death penalty.Under Islamic law, she says, the families' decision to accept the compensation means they will drop their rights to pursue the death penalty.
The council will also consider the amount of time already served by the prisoners, which totals eight years.The council will also consider the amount of time already served by the prisoners, which totals eight years.
The council's proceedings, due to begin at 1600 GMT, are normally public but the media have not been invited to cover the event.The council's proceedings, due to begin at 1600 GMT, are normally public but the media have not been invited to cover the event.
In principle, the council's decision is final and irrevocable but our correspondent says that any announcement will probably be followed by a political process involving talks between Libya, Bulgaria and the EU.In principle, the council's decision is final and irrevocable but our correspondent says that any announcement will probably be followed by a political process involving talks between Libya, Bulgaria and the EU.
The medics insist they are innocent of deliberately giving tainted blood to children at the Benghazi hospital in 1998.The medics insist they are innocent of deliberately giving tainted blood to children at the Benghazi hospital in 1998.
Fifty-six of the 438 children infected have since died.Fifty-six of the 438 children infected have since died.
The six were found guilty and sentenced to death twice, first in 2004 and again in 2006 following a court appeal.The six were found guilty and sentenced to death twice, first in 2004 and again in 2006 following a court appeal.
During their trial, one of the doctors who helped first isolate the virus, Luc Montagnier, said the hospital epidemic began before the foreign medics started working there.During their trial, one of the doctors who helped first isolate the virus, Luc Montagnier, said the hospital epidemic began before the foreign medics started working there.