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Libya Postpones Verdict in Bulgarian HIV Trial
TRIPOLI, Dec. 23 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Verdicts in the trial of six Bulgarians accused of deliberately infecting nearly 400 Libyan children with the HIV virus has been delayed until February.
It was the second time that verdicts have been postponed in the case, which started in February.
The six Bulgarians - five nurses and a doctor - could face the death penalty if found guilty of injecting the children with HIV-contaminated blood.
The judge said the postponement was necessary "to review the files of evidence further," BBC's online news service reported.
The trial has provoked strong feelings in Bulgaria after two of the defendants alleged they had been tortured and made confessions under duress.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passi, who arrived in Tripoli early Thursday to be present for the verdict, said he believed in the "independence" of the Libyan justice system, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Passi, speaking during a press conference with Libyan Justice Minister Mohamed al-Misrati, also said he hoped the verdict would be "just."
"This trial is not aimed at the Bulgarian people, who are following it with great interest," Passi said.
Commenting on the delay in the verdict, the foreign minister added that it was "better to announce a just verdict in this case, instead of a speedy verdict which could be against the interests of the accused."
Misrati, meanwhile, said that the case was being conducted in a way that conformed to "all laws applied to Libyans and foreigners living in this country."
"It should not cause any tension," the Libyan minister said.
Passi was also expected to meet with Libyan President Muammar Qadhafi's son, Seif al-Islam, who is president of the Qadhafi Foundation, a charity that is also an observer at the trial. The younger Qadhafi pressed for the release of the accused in October.
Earlier in Sofia, the head of the Bulgarian parliament, Ognian Gerjikov, said he was "unhappily surprised" by the delay.
"I was convinced that there would be a verdict today," he said. "This new postponement will be very depressing for the accused Bulgarians." He added that Sofia "cannot allow itself a categorical reaction because it is important to preserve the delicate relations between Bulgaria and Libya."
The trial has also raised concern among human rights groups who have complained about reports that HIV-contaminated plasma was discovered at a defendant's apartment while she was in police custody, and the refusal of the court to allow expert opinion from Switzerland and France.
The medics, who deny the charges, had been working at a children's hospital in the northern city of Benghazi and have been in prison for almost three years.
Nine Libyans have also been charged in the case, in which Libya says more than 20 children have already died.
The accused are charged with "premeditated murder with the aim of undermining Libyan security". All have pleaded not guilty.
Their lawyers have argued that the infections stemmed from poor hygiene at the hospital where syringes are allegedly reused many times.
Bulgarian radio said that the sole doctor among the accused, Zdravko Georgiev, cried out, "This is horrible, this is impossible!" when the postponement was announced. He said that he was being held in a cell with 56 other men.
"The adjournment creates additional tension and has a bad effect on the health of the defendants," said defense lawyer Vladimir Sheitanov.
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