European leaders have condemned the death sentences imposed on six foreign medical workers in Libya for allegedly infecting hundreds of Libyan children with HIV.
The Palestinian doctor and five Bulgarian nurses have been in detention since 1999, during which time 52 of the 426 infected children have died of AIDS.
The medics were sentenced to death in 2004, but the Supreme Court quashed the ruling after protests over the fairness of the trial.
Their defence lawyers have said today's judgement will be appealed - the final appeal permitted under Libyan law.
The defendants, who say they are being made scapegoats for unhygienic hospitals, said they made confessions under torture.
The EU's justice and security minister, Franco Frattini, said he was shocked by the verdict, saying it was an obstacle to improving relations between the EU and Libya.
Human rights groups have joined the chorus of outrage, describing the trial process as deeply flawed and calling for the five to be released immediately.
