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Mauritania 'extradites Libya ex-spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi' Mauritania 'extradites Libya ex-spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi'
(35 minutes later)
Mauritania has handed Libya's former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi over to the Libyan authorities, state media say.Mauritania has handed Libya's former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi over to the Libyan authorities, state media say.
Libya wants to try Mr Senussi for crimes allegedly committed during his time as Col Gaddafi's right-hand man. He is also wanted by France and the International Criminal Court (ICC).Libya wants to try Mr Senussi for crimes allegedly committed during his time as Col Gaddafi's right-hand man. He is also wanted by France and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Mauritania previously said Senussi must first face charges of illegal entry.Mauritania previously said Senussi must first face charges of illegal entry.
He fled Libya after last year's uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.He fled Libya after last year's uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.
He was arrested on arrival in Mauritania, sparking repeated requests from the Libyan government for his return.He was arrested on arrival in Mauritania, sparking repeated requests from the Libyan government for his return.
The report of his extradition was carried by state TV and the state news agency in Mauritania. There has so far been no confirmation from the Libyan authorities.The report of his extradition was carried by state TV and the state news agency in Mauritania. There has so far been no confirmation from the Libyan authorities.
"He was extradited to Libya on the basis of guarantees given by Libyan authorities," a Mauritanian government source told Reuters news agency, without giving details."He was extradited to Libya on the basis of guarantees given by Libyan authorities," a Mauritanian government source told Reuters news agency, without giving details.
According to the reports, Mr Senussi was delivered to an official Libyan delegation headed by the minister of justice.According to the reports, Mr Senussi was delivered to an official Libyan delegation headed by the minister of justice.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Cairo says that, if confirmed, Mr Senussi's extradition to Libya will be a blow for the ICC.
Not only has the court been trying to win custody of Mr Senussi, he says, it is also arguing that Col Gaddafi's son Seif al-Islam should also be brought to justice at the court.
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It is not known if he is still in the country although one official quoted by AP news agency said the former spy-chief left Mauritania on Wednesday on a Libya-bound flight.It is not known if he is still in the country although one official quoted by AP news agency said the former spy-chief left Mauritania on Wednesday on a Libya-bound flight.
In March, Mr Senussi was held at Nouakchott airport in Mauritania after flying in from Morocco - five months after the capture and killing of Col Gaddafi.In March, Mr Senussi was held at Nouakchott airport in Mauritania after flying in from Morocco - five months after the capture and killing of Col Gaddafi.
Two months later he was charged for illegally entering the country and for the use of forged documents.Two months later he was charged for illegally entering the country and for the use of forged documents.
In June 2011, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued a warrant for Mr Senussi for crimes against humanity alleged to have been carried out in Benghazi, the main base of the Libyan opposition during the revolt last year. In June 2011, the ICC issued a warrant for Mr Senussi for crimes against humanity alleged to have been carried out in Benghazi, the main base of the Libyan opposition during the revolt last year.
France has already sentenced Mr Senussi to life imprisonment for the shooting down of a UTA airliner over Niger in 1989 in which 170 people were killed.France has already sentenced Mr Senussi to life imprisonment for the shooting down of a UTA airliner over Niger in 1989 in which 170 people were killed.
He has been accused of various human rights abuses including his alleged role in the 1996 massacre of more than 1,000 inmates at the Abu Salim prison in Tripoli.He has been accused of various human rights abuses including his alleged role in the 1996 massacre of more than 1,000 inmates at the Abu Salim prison in Tripoli.
He is alleged to have ordered guards standing on grated ceilings above the inmates to fire down on them, after riots broke out over demands for better food and conditions.He is alleged to have ordered guards standing on grated ceilings above the inmates to fire down on them, after riots broke out over demands for better food and conditions.
Mr Senussi is also believed to have information about Libyans kidnapped and assassinated abroad during Gaddafi's rule, and the financing of terrorist organisations, especially in Africa.Mr Senussi is also believed to have information about Libyans kidnapped and assassinated abroad during Gaddafi's rule, and the financing of terrorist organisations, especially in Africa.
Investigators in the US and UK also believe he may have further knowledge about the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, in which 270 people died.Investigators in the US and UK also believe he may have further knowledge about the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, in which 270 people died.