Libya's Saif al-Islam Refutes French Missiles for Bulgarian Medics Deal

Politics | August 4, 2007, Saturday // 00:00
Bulgaria: Libya's Saif al-Islam Refutes French Missiles for Bulgarian Medics Deal

Saif- al-Islam, Qadaffi's son, denied any quid pro quo for the release of the five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor wrongly convicted in a high-profile AIDS case.

The son of the Libyan leader refuted information that appeared in the media that the six medics were freed in exchange of Milan missiles and military equipment deal signed on Friday.

Saif's words come as a contradiction of an interview of his for the French Le Monde, in which he said that Tripoli's release of the six medics last week had paved the way for the signing of major arms deals with France.

"It is unacceptable to turn such a humanitarian issue into an instrument for exchange," Saif-al Islam told AFP and added that the negotiation on the missiles and military equipment between Libya and France have started 18 months ago.

On Friday it became clear that Libya signed a contract with France to buy Milan anti-tank missiles worth EUR 168 M, in the first such deal since a European embargo was lifted. The contract was signed with European missile manufacturer MBDA, the world's number one maker of guided weapons systems.MBDA is jointly owned by BAE Systems, EADS and Finmeccanica.

Libya also signed a contract with EADS for a Tetra radio communications system in a separate deal worth EUR 128 M.

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