Dutch court compensates Palestinian for Libya jail

Amsterdam: A Dutch court has awarded $1.33 million in compensation to a Palestinian doctor tortured and jailed for eight years in Libya along with five Bulgarian nurses for purportedly infecting children with the Aids virus.

Ashraf Al Hazouz and the Bulgarians, who were pardoned and freed in 2007, have said their convictions were based on forced confessions.

Al Hazouz's Dutch lawyer said Tuesday that the Netherlands and European Union should now ensure Libyan authorities pay up promptly.

The doctor, who lives in the Netherlands, sued 12 Libyans at The Hague civil court for involvement in his torture and inhumane treatment.

International medical groups have charged that the medical workers were made scapegoats for unhealthy hospital conditions in Libya.