Libya must release innocent medics

THAT five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian medic are facing the death penalty in Libya is unacceptable.

They have been sentenced for allegedly infecting 462 children in a hospital in Bengazi with the HIV/Aids virus.

These sentences have been imposed notwithstanding the body of international expert opinion that these medical workers are innocent of these charges.

I recently met with President Muammar Gaddafi’s representative to the EU on this issue. I gave him a letter for Mr Gaddafi (whom I met before in Libya over the release of Brian Keenan) in which I urged the Libyan leader to release these workers on humanitarian grounds.

A diplomatic solution is needed to resolve this matter.

The EU and, particularly, the German presidency of the union must play a central role in securing this agreement with the Libyan authorities as a matter of urgency.

The human tragedy of 462 children being infected with the HIV/Aids virus in Libya must not be compounded by unjust and unacceptable judgments being passed on six people for crimes they did not commit.

Eoin Ryan MEP

European Parliament

43 Molesworth St

Dublin 2