French-Libyan nuclear deal angers opposition

Environmentalists and France's leftists opposition on Thursday criticized a preliminary deal by President Nicolas Sarkozy to provide civilian nuclear technology to Libya. Sarkozy announced the deal - a first step toward selling Libya a nuclear-powered plant to desalinate sea water - during a visit to the North African country on Wednesday. The French leader's trip came a day after Libya released five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor who had been sentenced to life in prison on charges they deliberately contaminated children with the virus that causes AIDS.