Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - Saturday December 22, 2001
It was the second time in four months the judges had postponed their verdict. They were originally due to hand down a ruling in September. The chairman of the panel of judges said the postponement was necessary "to review the files of evidence further." The verdict would now be given on Feb. 17, he said.
The five Bulgarian nurses, a Bulgarian doctor and a Palestinian doctor have pleaded innocent to charges of murder and conspiracy. Prosecutors charged them with giving HIV-contaminated blood to 393 children at Al-Fateh hospital in Benghazi. Twenty-three children reportedly developed AIDS and died. If convicted of murder, they could be condemned to death.
Nine Libyans are also on trial in the case, charged with negligence. The long-running trial - it began in February 1999 - has drawn international criticism.
Bulgaria accused Libya of holding a political trial and repeatedly called for an independent team of international experts to study the case and testify. The court refused to allow expert opinion from Switzerland and France. The rights group Amnesty International said there were "serious irregularities" in pretrial proceedings.
Critics charge that Libya may be trying to divert attention from horrendous conditions at state-run hospitals. Defense attorney Othman el-Bezanti told the court the infections stemmed from poor hygiene at the hospital and the reuse of syringes.
Many Bulgarian doctors and engineers work in Libya, where salaries are higher than in Bulgaria.
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