Slovakia's president has sent a letter to leader Qadaffi in which, despite the HIV-infected Libyan children, the head of state mentions the cause of the death-sentenced Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian doctor.

In the letter, according to Slovak PM Robert Fico, who handed it personally to Quadaffi, the Libya-jailed medics are called "criminals".

PM Fico made the statement in an interview for the Slovak National Radio.

"I cannot believe it," Bulgarian Ambassador to Slovakia Ognyian Garkov commented.

Later in the day, the Slovak prime minister apologized to his Bulgarian counterpart Sergey Stanishev about the misunderstanding, concerning his statement. In a phone call, Prime Minister Robert Fico explained that Slovak media did not provide direct quote but twisted his words.

Earlier in the day publications in several Czech and Slovak media claimed that Prime Minister Robert Fico named the death-sentenced Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor "criminals" at a meeting with Muammar Qadaffi.

"I cannot believe it," Bulgarian Ambassador to Slovakia Ognyian Garkov commented the dubious statement.

The scandal erupted when Slovak newspaper SME published an article with the title "Fico: The nurses are criminals".

Dennik SME (literally the "WE ARE Daily"), is the second most widely read and very influential daily in Slovakia.

SME claims by using the word "criminals", the PM indirectly acknowledged the Libyan court's death sentences for the six medics.

At the same time Bulgarian politicians and the Bulgarian Envoy to Bratislava claim the word "pachatelov" cited in the article has a more than one meaning, e.g. it may mean "criminals" and also "defendants".

Fico claimed word "pachatel" is used in Slovak penal law in the meaning of "defendant, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Ivaylo Kalfin said.

A lawyer from the Bratislava University commented the word is actually used only for people who have committed a crime, his guilt is proven and the person is found guilty of it by a court.

Fico assured Stanishev that Slovakia supports the just and humane solving of the case and declared that his country will keep its promise to help the infected Libyan children.

Slovak Envoy to Bulgaria has sharply retorted the news that Slovakia's president named the sentenced to death five Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian doctor "criminals". "The published information is distorted and shows the position of Slovakia in a twisted way," reads HE Kottman's letter.

"Slovakia supports the just and humane solving of this sad case. The country has always defended and will defend the solidarity position on the Bulgarian nurses in Libya case," end the letter.