Libya’s indignation about its “betrayal” of Bulgaria is most probably a pretence, according to a leading German newspaper.

Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov pardoned from life imprisonment the medics accused of deliberate HIV infection in Libya. The six were transferred to Bulgaria under a judicial agreement between the two countries. Libya was unhappy with the outcome of the case and accused Bulgaria of betrayal, while authorities in Bulgaria claim to have the judicial right to issue the pardon.

Threats by Libya to call on the Arab League to re-think relations with Bulgaria proved that blackmail was sweet when it was successful, German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) said.

Holding hostage the medics, who were arrested while they were still non-EU citizens, was nothing other than gangsterism, FAZ said.

The EU had showed its solidarity with Bulgaria in the liberation of the medics.

The country deserved that this continue if Libyan leader Muammar Gaddaffi’s regime tried to put it under pressure, the newspaper said.