Libya's Supreme Court is expected to uphold the verdicts of the five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor, sentenced to death for infecting children with HIV, BBC reported.

Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor say they are innocent of giving tainted blood to over 400 children.

The article comments that while the court is expected to uphold the verdicts, a deal on the medics' future is expected to be soon agreed.

"It is thought that the sentences may be commuted in exchange for a compensation package for the children's families."

A total of 438 children were given tainted blood at the Benghazi hospital in 1998. Fifty-six have since died.

The medics have argued that poor hygiene was to blame for the infections.

During their trial, one of the doctors who helped first isolate the HIV virus, Luc Montagnier, testified that the hospital epidemic began before the accused started working at the hospital.

But the six were found guilty and sentenced to death twice, first in 2004 and again in 2006 following a court appeal.

This hearing will be their final appeal in a case which has gripped public attention in both Libya and Bulgaria.

The European Union and US have both been involved in the talks over a possible deal.

During a visit to Bulgaria last week, US President George W Bush appealed for the release of the medics.

On Tuesday, Bulgaria announced that it had granted citizenship to the Palestinian doctor, ensuring that he would be part of any deal reached after the verdict.

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