The European Union (EU) welcomed on Tuesday the decision by Libya's highest court to delay a ruling on the death sentences of Bulgarian and Palestinian medics accused of infecting children with HIV.

"The postponement of the (Libyan) Supreme Court's judgment is a useful step, and we are counting on the Libyan judicial system to ensure that justice is done," European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner told reporters.

The Libyan court on Tuesday postponed to Jan. 31, 2006 its decision on the case of five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor, who were sentenced to death in 2004 after being convicted of intentionally infecting more than 400 children at Benghazi hospital.

The EU's executive European Commission said in a statement Tuesday that the EU "welcomes indications that the Libyan government is considering a moratorium on the application of the death sentence."

While respecting the independence of the Court, the EU has repeatedly called for the re-examination of the evidence which led to the conviction of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medics, the statement said.

The European Commission is keen to see a just and mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible, in view of the now very lengthy detention of the Bulgarian and Palestinian medics, the statement said.

Source: Xinhua