New evidence in Libyan medic trial appears shaky

Sep 13 2006

At the retrial in Tripoli of six medics accused of infecting 400 children with HIV, a Libyan court has been hearing evidence from four new prosecution witnesses.

The five Bulgarian nurses, and a Palestinian doctor were originally sentenced to death by firing squad in 1999 for allegedly, deliberately infecting 426 children with the HIV virus that causes AIDS.

Following an international outcry a Tripoli Court of Appeals overturned the death sentences and ordered a retrial that began in May.

The new witnesses had apparently taken part in the search of the house of doctor Zdravko Georgiev and his wife Kristiyana Valcheva in 1999 in the Libyan town of Benghazi and were testifying to the legality of the search.

After becoming confused by the questions of Libyan defense lawyer Osman Bizanti, one of the witnesses collapsed.

He had claimed the investigators knew about the 'dangerous' blood banks even before finding them, but a video showing police confiscating blood banks from the kitchen in the house revealed the banks, labelled as containing plasma protein, were empty.

For the first time since the retrial of the six began in May, lawyers have demanded a payout for the infections, which occurred at a hospital in Libya's Benghazi city in the late 1990s.

The total compensation demanded would total $4.6 billion.

The United States has supported Bulgaria and the European Union in saying the medics, in jail in Libya since 1999, are innocent.

The case has hindered a return to normal relations between Libya and the West after decades of hostility and ostracism.

Libyan officials in meetings with diplomats and charity officials in January, have informally suggested the nurses could go free if Bulgaria pays compensation to the children and their families.

Bulgaria has refused to pay, but has agreed to join the United States, the EU and Libya in the creation of an aid fund for the children of whom 50 have already died.

Public anger in Libya is running high over the case, but analysts say the offer of aid may give Tripoli a face-saving opportunity to free the nurses.

The accused medics, Palestinian doctor Ashraf Alhajouj and Bulgarians Snezhana Dimitrova, Nasya Nenova, Valentina Siropolu, Christiana Valcheva and Valia Cherveniashka have all denied the charges in both their first and second trials and have repeatedly testified that they were tortured to make them confess.

Their torture claims are supported by Bulgaria and its allies and global AIDS experts say the outbreak at the Benghazi hospital where they worked began before they arrived.

The group have now been imprisoned for seven years and have been repeatedly refused bail.

The retrial was adjourned to Sept 21.