ICC tries Gaddafi's son in Libya

On November 23, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that the trial of Saif al-Islam, son of former Libyan President Muamar Gaddafi, will be opened in Libya.

Reuters quoted ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo as saying Libya had the right to prosecute Saif al-Islam and former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah Senussi, who is still at large.

Saif al-Islam when he was arrested on November 19 - Photo: Reuters

Saif al-Islam was once considered Gaddafi's successor if the old regime still existed in Libya. He was arrested on November 19 while trying to flee to Niger and is currently being held at a secret location in Zintan.

Mr Ocampo is in Tripoli for talks with Libya's new leaders about the charges and trials of Saif and Senussi, both wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimes during Libya's uprising and subsequent nine-month civil war.

The ICC and the interim Libyan government are still at odds over the trial of Saif al-Islam. On November 22, the Minister of Justice in the interim Libyan government, Mohammed al-Allagui, announced that Tripoli would not hand Saif over to the ICC for trial.

However, human rights groups and some Western leaders have expressed concerns about the ability of Libyan courts to ensure a fair trial for Saif. Many Libyans believe Saif is guilty, but observers are skeptical that concrete evidence of his guilt can be produced.

If handed over to trial, the maximum sentence the ICC could impose is life imprisonment, while the Libyan court could sentence Saif to death.

(According to Tuoi Tre)