Sarkozy goes to Libya after freeing of HIV medics

PARIS, July 25 (Reuters) French President Nicolas Sarkozy travels to Libya today to try to smooth the north African state's reintegration with the West and further French interests in the oil-rich nation.

Libya yesterday freed six foreign medics convicted of infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV, after agreeing a partnership deal with the European Union. They flew home on a French plane accompanied by Sarkozy's wife and their release cleared the way for the president's visit.

Sarkozy said he wanted to help Libya return to the ''concert of nations'' after being isolated for more than three decades because of Western accusations that it supported terrorism.

But he will also seek to pursue national business interests in Libya and widen French diplomatic influence in Africa.

''Of course they are going to get some contracts regarding the airport, regarding high tech, wherever the French are good,'' said Libya expert Saad Djebbar, a London-based Algerian lawyer.

''It will be oil, gas, infrastructure. Conversely, if Sarkozy hadn't done what he has done it would have taken them a long time to find any space in Libya.'' ATTACK Relations between France and Libya deteriorated after an attack on a French airliner in 1989. France convicted six Libyans in absentia but Tripoli has denied responsibility.

Ties improved when the West lifted sanctions in 2003 and Libya abandoned its weapons of mass destruction programmes.

Sarkozy visited Libya in October 2006 as interior minister but the jailing of the five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor in the HIV case remained an obstacle to normalising relations.

''The French were quite eager to get into the Libya arms market, the possibility of the sale of the Rafale (warplane) in particular,'' said Francois Heisbourg, head of the Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Studies.

''But as long as these innocent people were in effect hostages of the Libyan state, none of this could happen.'' Libya has also approached France's Areva about developing nuclear energy.

''We have been asked,'' an Areva spokesman said yesterday.

A French diplomatic source said it was ''possible'' some contracts would be signed during the visit.

Sarkozy has denied any link between the medics' release and providing Libya with nuclear technology.

Libya and France have also been strategic rivals for influence in west and central Africa for almost four decades but they may now have a chance to work together.

''On Darfur, the Libyans will work closely with Sarkozy ... Libya has influence in Sudan,'' said Djebbar.

Sarkozy is also expected to discuss his plans for a Mediterranean Union before travelling on to Senegal and Gabon.

REUTERS CS PM0447