Libya: ICC demands the handover of Saif al-Islam Qadhafi

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rebuffed Libya's request to potstone the handover of Colonel Mu'ammar Qadhafi's son Saif al-Islam Qadhafi. The deceased leader's son is being held captive in a secret location by a militia from the town of Zintan.

The ICC has ruled that Libya must prepare to hand over Saif al-Islam to the war crimes court at The Hague forthwith. He is wanted in relation to violent suppression of demonstrations during the Libyan unrest. Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC), however, has said it wants to try Saif al-Islam on Libyan soil.

In a bid to delay the handover to The Hague, Libya has questioned the admissibility of the case but, according to the ICC, failed to provide the necessary evidence. The court issued an arrest warrant for Saif al-Islam – as well as his father and the former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi – in June 2011.

Last month, Senussi was arrested in Mauritania, and Tripoli is also adamant that it wants to try him in Libya. But according to the ICC the UN Security Council resolution obliges Libya to co-operate with The Hague and hand over the men.

Sources: AP, Retuers, BBC News

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