TRIPOLI, Dec 23 (AFP) - Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi on Sunday met with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passi, who was in the country to attend the verdict in the trial of six Bulgarians accused of killing Libyan children by infecting them with HIV.
The talks centred on "bilateral relations and ways of developing them," JANA said without giving any details or discussing the postponement of the verdict until February 17.
A Bulgarian doctor and five nurses, as well as a Palestinian doctor, who was working with them at the paediatric hospital in the northern city of Benghazi, are accused of having "caused an epidemic by injecting AIDS-infected products into 393 children, 23 of whom are already dead," according to the charge sheet.
The accused are charged with "premeditated murder to undermine the security of Libya." All have pleaded not guilty.
The verdict was originally scheduled for September 22 but was postponed a first time to December 22 at the request of the defence.
Passi, who arrived in Tripoli early Thursday to be present for the verdict, and said on Saturday that he believed in the "independence" of the Libyan justice system. Passi returned home shortly after the meeting.
Speaking at a press conference with Libyan Justice Minister Mohamed al-Misrati, Passi 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.
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