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Sarkozy to boost EU-Libya links Sarkozy to boost EU-Libya links
(about 1 hour later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in Tripoli for talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a day after the release of six Bulgarian medics.French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in Tripoli for talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a day after the release of six Bulgarian 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 six were convicted of deliberately infecting Libyan children with HIV.The six were convicted of deliberately infecting Libyan children with HIV.
They were pardoned on their arrival in Bulgaria by the president, but the children's families have demanded that they be re-arrested.They were pardoned on their arrival in Bulgaria by the president, but the children's families have demanded that they be re-arrested.
In a statement, the Libyan Association for the Families of HIV-infected Children condemned the release and pardon of the medical workers as absurd and disrespectful. In a statement, the Libyan Association for the Families of HIV-infected Children condemned the release and pardoning of the medical workers as absurd and disrespectful.
The medics were greeted by tearful relatives and well-wishersThey called on the Interpol police force to re-arrest the medics in Bulgaria "so they can spend the rest of their sentences in prison". The medics were greeted by tearful relatives and well-wishersThey called on the Interpol police force to re-arrest the medics in Bulgaria, saying the pardons showed Western nations' disdain for Muslims.
They said the pardon showed Western disdain for Muslims, and they called for the Libyan authorities to sever relations with Bulgaria and expel Bulgarian workers from the country. They also called for the Libyan authorities to sever relations with Bulgaria and expel Bulgarian workers from the country.
The six medics - including a Palestinian-born doctor granted Bulgarian citizenship last month - had been held for eight years for deliberately infecting more than 400 children with HIV at a hospital in the town of Benghazi. The six medics - including a Palestinian-born doctor granted Bulgarian citizenship last month - had been held for eight years after being accused of deliberately infecting 438 children with HIV-tainted blood at a hospital in Benghazi.
They always maintained their innocence.They always maintained their innocence.
Each of the families involved is reported to have received $1m (£500,000) per child in compensation as part of the settlement under which the original death sentences imposed on the medics were commuted to life imprisonment. Each of the families involved is reported to have received $1m (£500,000) per child in compensation as part of a settlement.
The release was made possible by a deal struck in Tripoli on improving Libya-EU ties, following years of negotiations. Under that deal the original death sentences imposed on the medics were commuted to life imprisonment.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Cecilia, were also involved in the final negotiations.
Immigration supportImmigration support
Europe and the US had made it clear to Libya that resolving their situation was the key to improving ties. The medics' release was made possible by a deal struck in Tripoli on improving Libya-EU ties, following years of negotiations.
Both Mr Sarkozy, the French president, and his wife Cecilia were also involved in the final negotiations. He is the first European head of state to visit Libya since the release.
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 commentsHAVE 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
Mr Sarkozy wants to further Libyan help in the fight against terrorism, says the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris. The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says the talks - at Colonel Gaddafi's residence - will cover topics such as illegal immigration and the ongoing crisis in Sudan's western region of Darfur.
And she adds he wants more support in stemming the flow of illegal immigrants crossing into southern Europe from North Africa. Mr Sarkozy is also expected to sign agreements with Libya in areas like defence and nuclear development for civil use.
He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux. Libya's Foreign Minister Abdullah Shalqam said the visit would also give them a chance to discuss Mr Sarkozy's proposal for the establishment of a Mediterranean Union.
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. Europe and the US had made it clear to Libya that resolving their situation was the key to improving ties.
The imprisonment of the medics caused an international outcryBulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said on Wednesday his country could write off Libya's debts of $54m (£27m) owed to Sofia as a "humanitarian gesture". Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said on Wednesday his country 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.
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.Bulgaria, its allies in the EU and the US say Libya used the case to deflect criticism from its run-down health service.