Former Qadhafi intelligence chief 'charged' in Mauritania

According to Mauritanian officials, former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi has been charged with illegal entry. Senussi, who fled Libya after the fall of Colonel Muammar Qadhafi, was held at Nouakchott airport after flying in from Morocco in March.

Both Libya and the International Criminal Court (ICC) want him extradited to face trial for crimes against humanity. But Muritanian officials say he is facing trial for using false documents to travel. A source quoted by AFP news agency said Senussi has been detained in a special prison cell ahead of the trial.

Libya's interim government has said it wants Senussi back on Libyan soil, where he can stand trial for numerous allegations of murder and human rights abuses while he was Qadhafi's head of intelligence.

Senussi, who is Qadhafi's brother-in-law, was once the late leader's closets aide. Nicknamed “the butcher” he was reportedly involved in a massacre in 1996 of more than 1,000 inmates at the Abu Salim prison in Tripoli.

In March, following Senussi's arrest, Libya's Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Abushagur said Mauritania had agreed to hand him over. Mauritanian officials, however, said no decision had been made on his extradition.

Interpol has issued an international "red notice" call for his arrest at Libya's request. Senussi is also wanted on a 2011 ICC arrest warrant in connection with the violent suppression of protests during last year's Libyan uprising. He is also wanted by the French authorities after a court there sentenced him to life in prison for his involvement in a 1989 attack on a French plane that killed 170 people.

Sources: BBC News, Reuters, Business Week

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