U.S. State Department, Libyan Officials Discuss Release of Health Workers Sentenced to Death in HIV Infection Case

U.S. Department of State Deputy Secretary John Negroponte on Wednesday met with Libyan Foreign Minister Abdel-Rahman Shalqam and Ali alTreiki, the country's secretary of African affairs, in Libya to discuss several issues, including the release of six medical workers sentenced to death for allegedly intentionally infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV, the AP/International Herald Tribune reports (AP/International Herald Tribune, 4/18). According to Reuters, Negroponte, who visited Libya as part of a four-country tour in Africa, met with the two officials after Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi declined to meet with him (Sarrar, Reuters, 4/18). Negroponte during his visit called on the Libyan officials to release the medical workers. He also released a statement that said he called for "finding a solution to the tragic outbreak of HIV in Benghazi that will allow the incarcerated foreign medics to go home" (AP/International Herald Tribune, 4/18). The U.S. is supporting Bulgaria's calls for the release of the health workers, Reuters reports (Reuters, 4/18).