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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Libya and EU seek improved ties | Libya and EU seek improved ties |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Libya and the EU have said their ties will improve following the release of six Bulgarian medical workers. | Libya and the EU have said their ties will improve following the release of six Bulgarian medical workers. |
| The six had been imprisoned for deliberately infecting children with HIV and are now celebrating their freedom in Bulgaria. | The six had been imprisoned for deliberately infecting children with HIV and are now celebrating their freedom in Bulgaria. |
| They were released on Tuesday following years of negotiation. | They were released on Tuesday following years of negotiation. |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli, where he is expected to sign agreements on bilateral co-operation. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy is to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli, where he is expected to sign agreements on bilateral co-operation. |
| The five nurses and a Palestinian-born doctor, who served eight years of the life sentences they received, had always maintained they were innocent. | The five nurses and a Palestinian-born doctor, who served eight years of the life sentences they received, had 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. |
| 'New page' | 'New page' |
| Europe and the United States had made it clear to Libya that resolving their situation was the key to improving ties. | Europe and the United States had made it clear to Libya that resolving their situation was the key to improving ties. |
| There are reports that Mr Sarkozy could sign agreements on security, immigration, energy and scientific research. | There are reports that Mr Sarkozy could sign agreements on security, immigration, energy and scientific research. |
| 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 href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/profile.jspa?userID=2388406&edition=2&ttl=20070725094804">Have your say: Libya medics | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The six medics were flown from Tripoli to Sofia early on Tuesday at the end of a three-day trip to Libya by Mr Sarkozy's wife Cecilia and the EU's External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. | The six medics were flown from Tripoli to Sofia early on Tuesday at the end of a three-day trip to Libya by Mr Sarkozy's wife Cecilia and the EU's External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. |
| Ms Ferrero-Waldner said it marked "a new page in the history of relations between the EU and Libya". | Ms Ferrero-Waldner said it marked "a new page in the history of relations between the EU and Libya". |
| European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the EU could now begin to normalise trade and political ties with Libya. | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the EU could now begin to normalise trade and political ties with Libya. |
| Compensation confusion | Compensation confusion |
| Mr Sarkozy and the EU denied making any financial payment to secure the medics' release. | Mr Sarkozy and the EU denied making any financial payment to secure the medics' release. |
| However, the families of the 438 infected children reportedly agreed last week to a compensation deal worth $1m (£500,000) per child, channelled through the Gaddafi Foundation, a charity run by Seif al-Islam, the Libyan leader's son. | However, the families of the 438 infected children reportedly agreed last week to a compensation deal worth $1m (£500,000) per child, channelled through the Gaddafi Foundation, a charity run by Seif al-Islam, the Libyan leader's son. |
| Libya's foreign minister said both the EU and France had contributed to the fund, AFP reported. | Libya's foreign minister said both the EU and France had contributed to the fund, AFP reported. |
| The medics were convicted of deliberately injecting the 438 children with HIV-tainted blood. Fifty-six of the children have since died. | The medics were convicted of deliberately injecting the 438 children with HIV-tainted blood. Fifty-six of the children have since died. |
| The six, who had been in prison since 1999, say they were tortured to confess. | The six, who had been in prison since 1999, say they were tortured to confess. |
| Foreign experts say the infections started before the medics arrived at the hospital, and are more likely to have been a result of poor hygiene. | Foreign experts say the infections started before the medics arrived at the hospital, and are more likely to have been a result of poor hygiene. |