Col Gaddafi faces torture lawsuit

ailed in Libya for allegedly infecting children with HIV has filed a suit for torture against Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Ashraf Alhajouj, imprisoned with five Bulgarians for more than eight years, filed the suit through a French group.

The move coincides with a visit to France by Mr Gaddafi, which enabled the group to invoke an international anti-torture convention against him.

It is unclear how far the action can go as Mr Gaddafi has diplomatic immunity.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his then-wife Celia have been credited with brokering the release of Mr Alhajouj and the other medics on 24 July.

But questions were raised about the terms of the release after Mr Sarkozy signed major trade agreements with Libya the following day.

France is the first Western country to invite Mr Gaddafi for an official visit, but on Tuesday opposition MPs boycotted a meeting with him at the French parliament.