Gaddafi's son may be tried in Libya

MUAMMAR Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, 39, was yesterday confirmed to have been captured in the south of Libya while trying to flee to Niger.

He had been on the run since October 20, when his father, the former Libyan ruler, was captured and killed in his home town, Sirte, by fighters loyal to the National Transitional Council.

Libya's interim rulers want him to stand trial in Libya, a member of the ruling National Transitional Council said yesterday. "We trust the Libyan judiciary, and that there are all guarantees for a fair and impartial trial for him," Mohamed al-Alaqi, who holds the justice portfolio, told Libyan media.

Al-Alaqi said that he had spoken with International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, and that they would discuss the issue during a visit by Moreno-Ocampo to Libya next week.

Saif Gaddafi was once known as the liberal face of the despotic clan of the slain Libyan ruler . He had called for reforms and, in contrast to his father and brothers Hannibal and al-Saadi, was never caught in a scandal or involved in an attack on anyone .

But at the start of the revolution he tried to sow fear among Libyans. He said in a televised address that "the Americans and Europeans are on their way and will occupy your country".

Saif is the subject of an International Criminal Court warrant for crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the crackdown on protesters against his father's rule.