Gaddafi's son Saif to be tried in Libya

Former slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, will be tried in Libya rather than in the International Criminal Court in The Hague (ICC), said Abdul Hafid Ghoga, spokesperson of the ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) in Tripoli Sunday.

File photo shows Saif al-Islam, the son of Muammar Gaddafi, during an activity in Tripoli on August 23, 2011. [Xinhua/AFP Photo]

He said at a press conference that the NTC Sunday had discussed the capture of Saif who was wanted both by the Libyan court and the ICC, “and the decision is he stay here and receive a fair trial."

"We were consolidated by trying to activate the transitional law as well as the legislative body," said Ghoga, adding that the procedures were completed.

The European Union (EU) Saturday urged the NTC to safely deliver Saif to justice.

"The reported capture of Saif al-Islam is a significant development. As Colonel Gaddafi's son and possible successor, Saif was a key player in the former regime," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in her statement following the report of Saif's capture.

Libyan interim Prime Minister Abdel Rahim el-Keeb promised a fair trial for Saif, who had been on the run for months since forces of the NTC took over Tripoli in late August and is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity.

"We assure Libyans and the world that Saif al-Islam will receive a fair trial," he said at a televised news conference held in the western Libyan town of Zintan, where Saif al-Islam is being kept in custody.

The ICC issued warrants on June 27 against Saif, his father and Abdullah al-Senussi, former intelligence chief in Gaddafi's regime who was captured earlier Sunday and is detained on charges of crimes against humanity in cracking down on anti-Gaddafi protests.

Muammar Gaddafi and his another son, Mutassim, were captured alive by NTC forces in his hometown Sirte in late October, but both died shortly in murky circumstances.

More related news:

• Libya: Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam captured

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