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Sarkozy to boost EU-Libya links Sarkozy to boost EU-Libya links
(about 3 hours later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is travelling to Tripoli to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a day after the release of six foreign medics.French President Nicolas Sarkozy is travelling to Tripoli to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a day after the release of six foreign medics.
The meeting is being seen as a sign of the normalisation of ties between Libya and the EU following the release.The meeting is being seen as a sign of the normalisation of ties between Libya and the EU following the release.
The medical workers were held for eight years for infecting children with HIV. The five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian-born doctor were imprisoned for eight years for infecting children with HIV. They always denied this.
The five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian-born doctor, who had their death sentences commuted to life in jail, always denied they were guilty. All six were pardoned on their arrival in Sofia by President Georgi Parvanov.
All six were pardoned on their arrival in Sofia by Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov.
Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said Bulgaria could write off Libya's debts of $54m (£27m) owed to Sofia as a "humanitarian gesture".Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said Bulgaria could write off Libya's debts of $54m (£27m) owed to Sofia as a "humanitarian gesture".
However, he said the cancellation of the debt should not be viewed as a ransom or admission of the medical workers' guilt.However, he said the cancellation of the debt should not be viewed as a ransom or admission of the medical workers' guilt.
Immigration supportImmigration support
Europe and the US had made it clear to Libya that resolving their situation was the key to improving ties.Europe and the US had made it clear to Libya that resolving their situation was the key to improving ties.
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.
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 Send us your comments 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 Send us your comments
And he wants more support in stemming the flow of illegal immigrants crossing into southern Europe from North Africa.And he wants more support in stemming the flow of illegal immigrants crossing into southern Europe from North Africa.
He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux. He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux.
The Libyan Foreign Minister, Abdullah Shalqam, said that Mr Sarkozy's visit would give them a chance to discuss the French president's proposal for a Mediterranean union. The Libyan Foreign Minister, Abdullah Shalqam, said that Mr Sarkozy's visit would provide an opportunity to discuss the French president's proposal for a Mediterranean union.
Mr Sarkozy had made securing the medics' freedom a foreign policy priority since taking office in May.Mr Sarkozy had made securing the medics' freedom a foreign policy priority since taking office in May.
His wife, Cecilia Sarkozy, played a last-minute role in securing that release, which followed an agreement on normalising relations with the EU.His wife, Cecilia Sarkozy, played a last-minute role in securing that release, which followed an agreement on normalising relations with the EU.
The US-based rights' group Human Rights Watch welcomed their release, but warned that torture and other rights abuses in Libya remained a concern. Condemnation
"The absence of a free press, the mistreatment of detainees and the need for legal reform require urgent international attention," the group said in a statement. In a statement issued on Wednesday, families of the children infected with HIV condemned the release and pardon of the medical workers.
They called on the Interpol police force to re-arrest the medics in Bulgaria "so that they can spend the rest of their sentences in prison".
The foreign medics were convicted of deliberately injecting 438 children with HIV-tainted blood. Fifty-six of the children have since died.The foreign medics were convicted of deliberately injecting 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.
Bulgaria, its allies in the EU and the US say Libya used the case to deflect criticism from its run-down health service. The US-based rights' group Human Rights Watch welcomed their release, but warned that torture and other rights abuses in Libya remained a concern.
"The absence of a free press, the mistreatment of detainees and the need for legal reform require urgent international attention," the group said in a statement.