Libya urges Niger to extradite Gaddafi son: report

By Taha Zargoun and Marie-Louise Gumuchian

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya has demanded that Niger extradite Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi, warning that his call for Libyans to prepare for a "coming uprising" threatened ties between the two countries, Libyan News Agency LANA said on Saturday.

As Libyan rebels gained the upper hand over Gaddafi's regime last September, Saadi and a group of senior loyalists fled across the border to Niger, where they remain under house surveillance in the capital Niamey.

In a telephone call to Al Arabiya television late on Friday, Saadi said that he was in regular contact with people in Libya who were unhappy with the authorities put in place after the ousting and killing of his father.

LANA cited a telephone call between Niger's Foreign Minister Bazoum Mohamed and his Libyan counterpart Ashour Bin Hayal on Saturday, quoting the Libyan minister as expressing "strong resentment" towards Saadi's "aggressive statements."

"Mr Ashour Bin Hayal reiterated to the foreign minister of Niger that these statements threaten the bilateral relationship between the two countries and that the government of Niger should adopt strict measures against him (Saadi) including extraditing him to Libya to be prosecuted for the crimes he committed against the Libyan people," LANA said.

Niger has said Saadi would remain in the West African nation until a United Nations travel ban on him was lifted, despite Tripoli's request for his return.

Interpol last year issued a "red notice" requesting member states to arrest Saadi with a view to extradition if they find him on their territory.

"The foreign minister of Niger ... expressed his regret and apologies to the government and Libyan people for what has happened and confirmed that he will contact the Niger president who is on a foreign visit to France," LANA said.

"He wants to assure the Libyan side that the demands made forth will be responded to in accordance to the laws and approved customs. He added that the communication between the parties will be open in this regard," LANA added.

Libyan government officials were not immediately available for comment.

BAD FOR THE NEIGHBOURS

In an interview broadcast by France 24 on Saturday but recorded before Saadi's interview was aired, Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou stated that Niger had not received any formal extradition request from Tripoli but would study any future one.

"If we receive an official request we will study it. We are a state based on the rule of law. We will study that question according to our laws and our international commitments, because Niger signed the treaty that created the International Criminal Court," Issoufou told France 24.

"We took them in on humanitarian grounds ... and we were very clear with them at the time: we took them in on condition they do not carry out any subversive activities against the Libyan authorities."

The ICC in the Hague issued a warrant for Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam - who is in a Libyan jail awaiting trial on rape and murder charges - but not for Saadi, who before the war was chiefly known abroad for his obsession with soccer.

The Libyan conflict has created new problems for the fragile region to its south. Heavily armed former fighters from Gaddafi's army have joined a new rebellion in northern Mali that has forced tens of thousands to flee from their homes.

As many as 200,000 migrant workers once employed in Libya have headed back into Niger, which along with the rest of the Sahel region is facing the latest of its recurrent food crises.

Aid agencies say their arrival has stretched scarce food resources even more thinly.

(Additional reporting by Mark John in Dakar; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian, Editing by Rosalind Russell)

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Niger offers asylum to Gaddafi son: report

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota 
Al Saadi Gaddafi, the third son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, reacts to a question at a news conference in Sydney. Al Saadi Gaddafi, the third son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, reacts to a question at a news conference in Sydney February 7, 2005.
Credit: Reuters/Tim Wimborne
JOHANNESBURG | Fri Nov 11, 2011 5:24pm EST
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou said Friday he had granted Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi asylum on humanitarian grounds but did not know the location of another fugitive son Saif al-Islam, South African media reported.
The announcement will strain already troubled relations between Niger and Libya's interim rulers, who overthrew Muammar Gaddafi after an eight month uprising and want both sons to stand trial for alleged atrocities.
Saadi, a businessman and former professional footballer, is in Niger after escaping across the border from Libya when National Transitional Council (NTC) forces captured the capital Tripoli in August.
"We have agreed on granting asylum to Saadi Gaddafi for humanitarian reasons," the South African Press Association (SAPA) quoted Issoufou telling a news conference at the end of a two-day visit to South Africa.
Interpol has issued a "red notice" requesting member states to arrest Saadi with a view to extradition if they find him on their territory.
Libya's interim justice minister Friday questioned Niger's grounds in granting asylum on humanitarian grounds, saying it was usually given to people facing persecution in their own country.
"But al-Saadi has practiced persecution and incitement to murder. He is accused of killing Tripoli football player and national team member Bashir Al Rayan ... There is strong circumstantial evidence that he was involved in that," Mohammed al-Alagi told Dubai-based Al Arabiya television.
Issoufou said he did not know the location of Saif al-Islam who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity.
"Saif al-Islam is not in Niger. I would have to consider what to do if he comes. We will deal with issues in terms of law and democracy and international agreements," Issoufou said.
Niger is a member of the Hague-based global court and officially would have to hand over Saif al-Islam if he arrived on its territory.
The ICC says it has been in indirect contact with Saif al-Islam to discuss him giving himself up.
He is believed to be deep in the Libyan desert.
(Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Additional reporting by Ali Abdelatti in Cairo Editing by Andrew Heavens)

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Gaddafi kin seethe in test of new Libya

 

A man cries to maintain order, how execute civilians in Sirte in order to get food, and daily rations from various cities in Libya, donated 3. November 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Youssef Boudlal

By Rania El Gamal

SIRTE, Libya | Friday, 4 November 2011 4: 07 pm EDT

SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) - two weeks after Muammar al-Gaddafi was killed in his home town, to poison his tribe's own relatives in Sirte, that village, that he be turned into a preferred city with anger and fear, seething, warning, evil blood will come Libya for years.

How far the rhetoric of the vendetta can't put it into action, is difficult to assess, but it is not to misjudge the hatred of the triumphant rebels pushed out their relatives a hatred, reinforced Gaddafi abuse suffered after capture and humiliation, which was exposed to his body before his secret funeral.

"You would forget when someone wrongly killed your son?" You do not remember. Here never forget is, "said Hajj Abu Mohammed, Member of Gaddafi Gaddadfa tribe in Wadi Garif, the deposed strongman desert place of birth in addition to Sirte."

"There will be blood feuds,", he said, are in a place where the native said the graves of Gaddafi's mother and three other related have been emptied and desecrated by enemy combatants during the battle of Sirte, the eight months of the war.

People in Sirte are particularly hostile fighters from Misurata, the next major city in the West, about 250 km (160 km), which they accuse the or the graves and much of the destruction and killings in Sirte--including the Gaddafi himself.

A long tribute to Gaddafi mother Aisha bin Niran, is written on the wall behind the graves. Next to him read freshly sprayed graffiti "Committee for statue crash."

Many Libyans, chiefly to Misurata, the bombardments during the siege of Gaddafi's forces was damaged, believe that to defend soldiers from the Misurata also with the people in the Gulf of Sirte for Gaddafi and destroy their city.

Stories of murder and rape of Gaddafi be said behind closed doors and food rage troops in Misurata. Gaddafi loyalists in Sirte and other desert areas around it are bitter against the revolt which drove thousands from home.

SCATTERED REFUGEES

Hundreds of families have no place to go after their homes in the war have demolished, are now distributed in villages around Sirte. Some remain with related. Other life in tents in the desert, abandoned huts and old school.

You say, anti-Gaddafi fighters went to pillage and burn even after the war was over in their properties and Gaddafi was dead. Residents tell fighter stories of the Government forces of cars at gunpoint and take away their vehicles.

International human rights organizations have urged the new leadership in the Transitional National Council order and respect for civil rights, citing evidence of violations of human rights. In one case dozens of make, some with their hands bound, were found shot dead in a cage, where pro-Gaddafi had settled forces,.

"they stole our furniture, our house burned and took our car," Umm Khaled said as she sat in a tent, sharing it with dozens of her family in the desert.

"What remains in Libya?" Why didn't they just kill us and relieve us. The country and our leader was killed.

"Let it end."

Many Sirte residents are still strongly for Gaddafi, while others simply buy ruled with Libya's oil wealth to a safer and more prosperous time under the man for 42 years with certain sectors of society benefit.

Some consider nor Gaddafi secretly hides him photos under their stuff, while many as the "leader of the martyrs call" - in his Prime, he chose even call, the brother leader.

MEMORIES

"We have only four things in life, you understand me?" said a young girl, a resident of Sirte lives with her family in an abandoned school in Wadi Garif, as they raised their four fingers.

She took this correspondent notebook and pen and wrote "Allah, Muammar, Libya." And... that's all. "It was the ubiquitous vocals from Libyans under the old order."

"We were living in security with Muammar, we never thought we will end up living in a school," she said. "You look around, see food aid by organizations or any officials who visit us?" "Nobody."

The cruel display of Gaddafi's body in a cold room in Misurata for four days also has its root and Sirte residents, angry, such as the possible decision, secretly in the desert, to bury the body and it rejected his tribesmen under custom inter request.

"Our Tribal Sheik went to Tripoli where the Muammar." Rejected then the Misratah people hand him over. "You said he is not to be buried among the Muslims," said Hajj Abu Mohammed. "We dug grave here to bury him." But she said no. "

Other residence are available in the area said: "even if he is dead, they are afraid of him." "Perhaps they fear that there will be an uprising or something if people know where he was buried."

Many Libyans fear that civil war between tribes and regions flare could, if the NTC does not reconcile the hostility of the war and deal with the legacy of weapons, which is created throughout the country up.

"Libya is a tribal culture, and if they do not ensure that reconciliation between the tribes, is it a bloodbath," said Abdullah, Member of the Gaddadfa tribe.

Another man from Sirte, Abu Najeeb, who now, in a tent in the desert together with members who lives after their homes were destroyed, Hamamla tribe, said: "it's not only about weapons."

"I would have a big gun, but if I am content, I would not hurt anyone."

"But if I don't get my rights back and I'm not satisfied," added he, when he his fingers in the throat, "Can I kill three people with a small knife."

(Editing by Barry Malone and Alastair MacDonald)

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