MUAMMAR Gaddafi’s son Seif al-Islam, for whom the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for crimes against humanity, is in detention.
“I have received confidential information stating he has been arrested,” ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo told AFP.
“We hope he can soon be in the Hague” to face judgment, he said, adding that he planned to contact the “Libyan transitional government” later in the day.
Mr Moreno-Ocampo said the ICC “is ready to help Libyans to deal with their difficult past” and ensure that “no crime remains unpunished”.
Earlier, the chairman of Libya’s rebel National Transitional Council told Al-Jazeera television from Benghazi he had “information that Seif al-Islam has been captured”.
“He is being kept in a secure place under close guard until he is handed over to the judiciary,” Abdel Jalil said, without giving a date or place for the reported capture of Gaddafi’s son.
Before the revolt which erupted in February, Seif al-Islam was increasingly seen as the successor to his father, despite publicly ruling out any dynastic ambitions in the North African country.
He long served as the face of the regime in the West as he appeared in suits and ties and spoke fluent English.
Mr Moreno-Ocampo said Seif Gaddafi had been detained by “rebel special forces”.
He declined to give more details of the arrest or the source of the information.
Moreno-Ocampo said he had no word on the whereabouts of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
“We hope that Muammar Gaddafi is also arrested and also faces justice,” he said.
“There is no more impunity for these crimes.”
Seif Gaddafi was indicted along with his father on crimes against humanity charges for allegedly ordering, planning and participating in illegal attacks on civilians in the early days of the violent crackdown on anti-regime protesters.
Be the first to comment