Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been arrested in the south of the country, an official of the justice department of the National Transitional Council announces.
NTC commander Bashir al-Tlayeb of Zintan brigades confirmed to reporters fromTripoli that Seif al-Islam was arrested near the southern town of Ubari along with three of his companions.
Tlayeb said Seif al-Islam was in the hands of NTC fighters in the city of Zintan and that he would remain with them until the formation of a new Libyan government.
The commander refused to comment on where the son of former Libyan strongman will be tried for his alleged crimes.
But another NTC field commander, Adel Tarhouni, told Al Arabiya that Seif al-Islam will be tried in Libya and that fighters had raised the issue with Prime Minister Abdul al-Raheem al-Qeeb.
NTC fighter Meftah Ahmad Othman told Al Arabiya from the coastal city of Sirte that Seif al-Islam was captured in a dawn ambush carried out by “Khaled Bin al-Walid” fighters who are part of “Abu Bakr al-Siddiq” brigade.
Ahmad Othman added that Seif al-Islam was flown to Zintan and that his capture was not announced until his detention site was fully secured.
One of his companions is a senior commander in the Gaddafi’s regime, but his name was not immediately revealed, Ahmad Othman said.
The International Criminal Court in the Hague issued warrants on June 27 against Seif al-Islam as well as his father and Abdullah al-Senussi, former intelligence chief, on charges of crimes against humanity.
Tarhouni said that reports suggest that Senussi and his family have fled to Algeria.
Al Arabiya''s correspondent from Tripol says news of the arrest of Seif al-Islam was received with “great jubilation,” adding that many Libyans said the joy will only be complete when Senussi is arrested.
Celebratory gunfire could be heard in the background during a phone call with Al Arabiya's correspondent from Tripoli.
