This is horrible, this is impossible!

Dr Zdravko Georgiev Defendant

The six Bulgarians - five nurses and a doctor - could face the death penalty if found guilty of injecting the children with HIV-contaminated blood.

The judge said the postponement was necessary "to review the files of evidence further".

The trial has provoked strong feelings in Bulgaria after two of the defendants alleged they had been tortured and made confessions under duress.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy has been in Libya to discuss the case with officials.

The trial has also raised concern among human rights groups who have complained about reports that HIV-contaminated plasma was discovered at a defendant's apartment while she was in police custody, and the refusal of the court to allow expert opinion from Switzerland and France.

Long delay

The medics, who deny the charges, had been working at a children's hospital in the northern city of Benghazi and have been in prison for almost three years.

A Palestinian doctor and nine Libyans have also been charged in the case, in which Libya says more than 20 children have already died.

The accused are charged with "premeditated murder with the aim of undermining Libyan security". All have pleaded not guilty.

Their lawyers have argued that the infections stemmed from poor hygiene at the hospital where syringes are reused many times.

Bulgarian radio said that the sole doctor among the accused, Zdravko Georgiev, cried out: "This is horrible, this is impossible!" when the postponement was announced, saying that he was being held in a cell with 56 other men.

"The adjournment creates additional tension and has a bad effect on the health of the defendants," said defence lawyer Vladimir Sheitanov.

Mr Passy said he had faith in the Libyan justice system, saying that it was "better to announce a just verdict in this case, instead of a speedy verdict which could be against the interests of the accused".