Libya demanded Niger hand over one of
Moammar Gadhafi's sons who is under house arrest in the neighboring
African nation after he warned in a television interview that his
homeland was facing a new uprising.
Mohammed Hareizi, spokesman for the ruling National
Transitional Council, said Saturday that Niger must extradite Al-Saadi
Gadhafi and other ex-regime officials to "preserve its relationship and
interests" in Libya.
The demand came days before the first anniversary of the Feb.
17 start of the uprising that led to months of civil war and the
eventual ouster and death of the longtime Libyan leader. Al-Saadi
Gadhafi and more than 30 other loyalists fled to Niger after Tripoli
fell to rebels in September.
Niger Justice Minister Morou Amadou confirmed the demand had
been received but said Niger's government has refused to extradite
al-Saadi and the others to Libya because they risk being killed.
However, Amadou said the government would agree to extradite al-Saadi to
the Hague upon request by the International Criminal Court.
Gadhafi's son told Al-Arabiya TV in a telephone interview that
supporters of his father's ousted regime "are suffering tremendously" in
Libyan prisons at the hands of the country's new rulers. He also said
his return to Libya was imminent.
He said he is in contact with people in Libya on a daily basis
and claimed "70 percent of Libyans are unhappy with the current
circumstances. They are ready to cooperate to change these conditions."
Gadhafi's son pointed to the proliferation of weapons in the
oilrich North African nation as many former rebels have refused to lay
down their arms. He said Libyans were tired of widespread chaos.
"There is an uprising that will happen everywhere in the country," he told the station. "This will be a new popular uprising."
He called the new leadership a group of gagsters who are unable
to control the various militias in the country. But he also said he was
in touch with members of the NTC, which is governing the country unil
presidential elections can be held, and militia members. The NTC denied
Saturday it has been in touch with Gadhafi or any of the former regime
officials.
The interview infuriated Libya's leadership. Hareizi said the
head of the NTC Mustafa Abdul-Jalil and Libya's foreign minister had
discussed the issue wit their counterparts in Niger and "stressed that
they will not tolerate the issue and they will take firm measures." He
didn't elaborate.
Al-Saadi Gadhafi's comments echoed complaints about the state
of the Libya as the new leadership struggles to impose its authority
over the vast desert nation since Gadhafis regime was overthrown and the
autocratic leader was captured and killed on Oct. 20.
International human rights organizations have complained of
rampant torture of inmates in makeshift prisons operated by militias
accused of seeking to exact revenge against the slain leader's former
supporters. According to te UN, various former rebel groups are
holding as many as 8,000 prisoners in 60 detention centers around the
country.
Libya's new leaders have promised to step up efforts to rein in the gunmen.
Another Gadhafi son, Seif al-Islam, was arrested in November by
fighters in Libya's remote southern desert. He as been held largely
without access to the outside world ever since and Libyan authorities
say they want to put him on trial at home, despite an arrest warrant
issued by the ICC.
Al-Saadi Gadhafi is not wanted by the ICC but is the subject of
UN sanctions. He fled to Niger in September soon after the Libyan
apital Tripoli fell to rebels.
Known for his love of professional soccer, Gadhafi's son
reportedly had a colorful past that included run-ins with police in
Europe, drug and alcohol abuse. (nvn)
