ICC in The Hague Holds Talks on Qaddafi’s Son Saif Al-Islam

The International Criminal Court in The Hague is in talks with the Libyan transitional government about the surrender of Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi to the court after his capture by Libyan rebels.

“We’re discussing his surrender,” Fadi El-Abdallah, spokesman for the court, said in an interview over the phone today. “There are three arrest warrants and there’s no arrest warrant for the other son,” El-Abdallah said. Qaddafi’s second son, Mohammed, was also arrested, Al Jazeera television said.

The court issued arrest warrants June 27 for Muammar Qaddafi, his son Saif and military intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi. The three men are wanted for killing, injuring, arresting and imprisoning hundreds of civilians during anti- regime protests that began in February.

Libyan rebels swept into Tripoli as the battle to end his 42 years of autocratic rule arrived at the doorstep of his presidential compound. Government forces offered little resistance and celebrations broke out in Green Square, site of pro-Qaddafi rallies in recent months. Clashes also erupted outside his headquarters in Tripoli, Agence-France Presse reported.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which has backed the rebels with aerial bombing since March, said in a statement that the “regime is clearly crumbling.”

Rebel leaders offered conflicting information on the whereabouts of Qaddafi, who seized power in the oil-rich North African nation in a 1969 coup.

The court in The Hague does not have police powers. His arrest would have to be made by the Libyan rebels or by another nation’s police if they leave Libya.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Fred Pals at fpals@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Hertling at jhertling@bloomberg.net