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Sarkozy to boost EU-Libya links Sarkozy signs deals with Gaddafi
(about 5 hours later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in Tripoli for talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a day after the release of six Bulgarian medics. France and Libya have signed agreements on issues including security, health care and immigration during talks between the two countries' leaders.
The meeting is being seen as a sign of the normalisation of ties between Libya and the EU following the release. French President Nicolas Sarkozy met Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in Tripoli a day after the release of six Bulgarian medics.
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. The two leaders also agreed to work on a nuclear energy project that will turn sea water into clean drinking water.
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. Their meeting is being seen as a sign of the normalisation of ties between Libya and the EU following the medics' release.
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. The EU and the United States had made it clear to Mr Gaddafi that resolving the medics' situation was key to improving relations.
They also called for the Libyan authorities to sever relations with Bulgaria and expel Bulgarian workers from the country. US interest
Libya began to emerge from its pariah status in 2003 after Mr Gaddafi gave up Libya's nuclear weapons programme, says the BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli.
Libya also accepted responsibility for the 1988 bombing of an airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, which killed 270 people, and agreed to pay compensation to the victims' families.
The medics were greeted in Bulgaria by tearful relativesSince then, international sanctions against the country have been gradually lifted.
"The objective is to co-operate so as to work on the installation in Libya of a nuclear reactor to supply drinking water from desalinated sea water," said Claude Gueant, an aide to Mr Sarkozy.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she hoped to visit Libya soon and signalled that US investment there could increase.
"I know that American companies are very interested in working in Libya," she said in Washington.
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.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.
'Forced confessions'
Each of the families involved is reported to have received $1m (£500,000) per child in compensation as part of a settlement.Each of the families involved is reported to have received $1m (£500,000) per child in compensation as part of a settlement.
Under that deal the original death sentences imposed on the medics were commuted to life imprisonment.Under that deal the original death sentences imposed on the medics were commuted to life imprisonment.
Immigration support
The medics' release was made possible by a deal struck in Tripoli on improving Libya-EU ties, following years of negotiations.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
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. 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.
Mr Sarkozy is also expected to sign agreements with Libya in areas like defence and nuclear development for civil use. The medics were pardoned on their arrival in Bulgaria by the president, but the children's families have demanded that they be re-arrested.
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. 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.
Europe and the US had made it clear to Libya that resolving their situation was the key to improving ties. The six, who had been in prison since 1999, say their confessions to infecting the children were forced from them by torture.
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.
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.