Freed doctor plans UN complaint against Libya

AMSTERDAM, Aug 7 (Reuters) A Palestinian doctor who says he was tortured to confess he deliberately infected hundreds of Libyan children with HIV plans to file a complaint against Libya with a UN human rights panel, his lawyer said today.

Ashraf Alhajouj and five Bulgarian nurses were freed on July 24, after more than eight years in jail, under a cooperation deal between Libya and the European Union.

''Alhajouj plans to file a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights committee in September over his torture, delayed proceedings and abuse of evidence among other things,'' lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld told Reuters.

International scientists say they have shown the HIV subtype began infecting the children before the foreign medics arrived.

Alhajouj and the nurses, who were sentenced to death on two occasions, have always maintained they are innocent and confessed under torture. Bulgaria and other EU governments had also said the medics were innocent and called for their release.

Nine Libyan policemen and a doctor were acquitted of torturing the medics by a Libyan court.

Relatives of the sick children say the infections were part of a Western attempt to undermine Muslims and Libya. More than 50 children have died.

Alhajouj wants European states to arbitrate with Libya for compensation and will also launch a criminal lawsuit against the officers who he says tortured him, Zegveld added.

REUTERS AE MSJ RAI2341