Gaddafi’s son, al-Saadi, flees to Niger

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, Headlines Sunday, September 11th, 2011

A convoy carrying ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi‘s son, al-Saadi, has crossed into neighbouring Niger, a spokesman for

Niger‘s government said on Sunday, one of the highest-profile former regime figure to flee to the landlocked African nation.

Al-Saadi, the fugitive ruler‘s 37-year-old son, entered Niger in a convoy with nine other people, said Niger Justice Minister Amadou Morou.

The vehicles were traveling south toward the outpost of Agadez, where other fleeing Libyan loyalists are believed to be holed up in a hotel.

”I wish to announce that one of Gaddafi‘s sons, al-Saadi Gadhafi, was intercepted in the north of Niger by a patrol of the Nigerien military,” Morou told reporters late on Sunday.

He said al-Saadi ”has no status at all” in Niger, indicating that he had not been granted refugee status, which would guarantee him certain rights.

Since last week, several convoys carrying senior officials of the former Libyan regime as well as civilians and soldiers have made their way across the porous desert border into Niger.

Among them were several of Gaddafi‘s top military officers, including his chief of security and the head of his southern command.

Niger has faced increasing scrutiny for allowing the former regime members onto its soil, and al-Saadi‘s arrival will likely intensify international pressure on the country to cooperate with Libya‘s new rulers.

They want all Gaddafi‘s sons, and Gadhafi himself, who is on the run, to be turned over for trial.

-Punchwp_posts