Libya's Supreme Court on Tuesday announced to postpone its ruling on death sentences for five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor over their conviction of infecting more than 400 children with the AIDS virus.

Judge Ali al-Allout announced the postponement in a session lasting fewer than five minutes, saying the hearing was adjourned to Jan. 31, said reports reaching here from Tripoli.

The accused, who had appealed against their conviction, were not present, but they were represented by their lawyers.

Considered as a case with international crimes, the hearing has drawn international criticism.

Several European diplomats attended the session, while more than 100 relatives of the infected children were outside the court holding banners calling for the death sentences on the accused to be carried out.

Source: Xinhua