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Gaddafi's son 'captured in Libya' | Gaddafi's son 'captured in Libya' |
(41 minutes later) | |
Colonel Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam has been captured, Libya's interim justice minister says. | |
He was said to have been arrested near the town of Obari in the south of the country. | |
The former leader's son is the last key member of the Gaddafi family to be captured or killed. | The former leader's son is the last key member of the Gaddafi family to be captured or killed. |
Saif al-Islam, 39, is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity during the uprising against his father. | |
A picture apparently showing Saif al-Islam after his capture has appeared on the page of a Facebook group based in the Libyan town of Sabha. | |
A militia force said he had been captured in Obari, near Sabha, in the south-west of the country, and would be taken to their base in Zintan in the north. | |
A Reuters reporter at Zintan said he had already been flown there. | |
A commander of the Zintan brigades, allied to the National Transitional Council (NTC), told a news conference that Saif al-Islam had been captured along with several aides, as they tried to smuggle him out to neighbouring Niger. | |
Fighter Wisam Dughaly told Free Libya television: "We will take him to Zintan for safekeeping to keep him alive until a government is formed and then we will hand him over as soon as possible." | |
He said Saif al-Islam was not hurt - though the picture on Facebook showed his right thumb and two fingers bandaged. | |
The NTC's Justice Minister Mohammed al-Allagui confirmed the capture and said Saif al-Islam would be transferred to the capital, Tripoli, soon. | |
The ICC in The Hague says it has been officially notified of the arrest. | |
An ICC spokesman, Fadi el-Abdallah, told the BBC that Libya had a legal obligation to hand over Saif al-Islam - who is wanted on charges of crimes against humanity - to the court. | |
However Mr Abdallah added that the final decision on where any trial would take place was up to the ICC judges after consultations with the Libyan authorities. | |
Celebrations | |
Saif al-Islam had been on the run since NTC forces took the capital, Tripoli, in August. | Saif al-Islam had been on the run since NTC forces took the capital, Tripoli, in August. |
Colonel Gaddafi himself was killed on 20 October after being captured during the final battle for his hometown, Sirte. | |
The interim government in Libya has launched an inquiry into how he died. | The interim government in Libya has launched an inquiry into how he died. |
The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says Saif al-Islam's capture is a very significant moment for Libyans. | |
They came to see Saif al-Islam as the heir apparent, as a younger version of his father due to his rhetoric during the uprising, she says. | They came to see Saif al-Islam as the heir apparent, as a younger version of his father due to his rhetoric during the uprising, she says. |
However, at one time he was considered one of the more liberal of Col Gaddafi's sons and was courted in the West. | However, at one time he was considered one of the more liberal of Col Gaddafi's sons and was courted in the West. |
Celebrations erupted on the streets of Tripoli shortly after the news of his arrest emerged. | Celebrations erupted on the streets of Tripoli shortly after the news of his arrest emerged. |
Our correspondent heard people hooting car horns, waving flags and firing guns into the air. | Our correspondent heard people hooting car horns, waving flags and firing guns into the air. |
Saif al-Islam has been reported captured before. In August, rebel forces announced his arrest as they took control of Tripoli - only for him to appear in front of cameras to disprove it. | Saif al-Islam has been reported captured before. In August, rebel forces announced his arrest as they took control of Tripoli - only for him to appear in front of cameras to disprove it. |