Sunday, January 06, 2013

Seif al-Islam to be Tried by Libyan Rebels in February

Gaddafi son's trial to be in February, Libya says

PTI | Jan 5, 2013, 02.48 PM IST

CAIRO: Libya has said that Saif al-Islam, the political heir of the country's late leader Gaddafi will go on trial in February.

" Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, former PM Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi and Gaddafi's former spy chief, Abdullah al-Senussi will be put on trial as soon as questioning is completed within the next month, as expected," Justice minister Salah Maraghni said on national television in a statement.

The trial was originally set for September, 2012, but was postponed in the light of Abdullah al-Senussi's extradition to Libya from Mauritania as prosecutors hoped he could provide more evidence against Saif al-Islam, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

Saif, 40, was considered the most likely successor to Col. Gaddafi and actively supported his father's attempts to quash the country's rebellion in 2011, the report said.

Gaddafi's regime was overthrown in October 2011 by opposition forces with Nato's assistance after a seven-month civil war. Gaddafi, who ruled the country for almost 42 years, was captured and killed by rebels near Sirte, his home town, on October 20.

Gaddafi's second son, Saif, was captured in November 2011 by a militia group from the western mountain town of Zintan, where he has been held ever since.

Saif is also wanted by the International Criminal Court, but Libyan officials have refused to hand him over to The Hague.

Saif and his lawyers have asked for a trial in The Hague as they are afraid that he could face death sentence if tried in Libya, the report said.

The Libyan authorities, however, have promised Saif and former Gaddafi government officials a fair trial.

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