Hundreds of Bulgarians prayed and marched through central Sofia yesterday in solidarity with six Bulgarian medical workers facing trial in Libya on charges of infecting children with the HIV virus that causes AIDS

The five nurses and one doctor could face the death penalty if convicted.

"The only thing we could do to help our compatriots is to pray," said 73-year-old Yordanka Peikova, carrying a candle at the St. George church.

"Our compatriots in Libya who are under a threat of death penalty should know Bulgarian people stand behind them," member of parliament Alexander Karakachanov told reporters.

"We are convinced of their innocence and can't imagine that medical workers could do what they are accused of," he added.

Nineteen Bulgarian medical staff were initially detained in February, 1999, during an investigation into how children in the Benghazi hospital where they worked became infected with HIV.

Thirteen were later released, but the six were charged with intentionally infecting 393 children, of whom 23 have already died, according to Libyan authorities.

Bulgarian officials say the six will face a special court under laws that include an element of Muslim sharia law.

The same charges have been levelled against eight Libyans and a Palestinian, Bulgarian authorities said.

The fate of the health workers has evoked deep passions in Bulgaria, and the government dispatched Justice Minister Teodossyi Simeonov and Chief Prosecutor Nikola Filchev to Libya on Saturday for talks with Libyan officials.

Bulgaria's state radio said they had not been received by Libyan authorities. Yesterday, the six medical workers met with the visiting Bulgarians but were not allowed to speak during the meeting, Bulgarian television reported.

"Bulgaria has not forgotten you. We are taking care of you; the government is looking after your case," Mr. Filchev told the medics.

Sofia has asked Libya to postpone a court hearing scheduled for today to enable Bulgarian defence lawyers to take part in the trial.

President Petar Stoyanov telephoned Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi last week to urge him to intervene in the case.

TORONTO

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