In an attempt to soothe relations with Libya concerning "The Condemned Six of Benghazi",  Bulgarian editor Dimitar Hristov has decided to publish a volume of love poetry written by Libyan foreign minister Abdel Rahman Shalgham.  Indeed, Mr. Hristov isn't shy about his appeasement.

'We have to brighten Bulgaria—Libyan relations up a bit.'

This gratuitous act by Mr. Hristov may placate some government officials in Libya, but it certainly hasn't dampened the spirit of revenge demanded by relatives of the infected children.

[C]hildren, students and representatives of the association of the parents of the infected children gathered in front of the airport to remind the international community about the fate of the infected children. Fifty—one of the children have already died. The protesters said that the people who committed the grave crime should be punished.

Meanwhile, the jailed Bulgarian nurses, convicted by a Libyan court for intentionally infecting nearly 400 Benghazi children with HIV, are being allowed visitations by relatives for the Christmas holiday. Their condemned status is to be reviewed by a Libyan judge in late January of 2006.

Eric Schwappach    12 06 05