LIBYA/USA: As Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's rule appears on the brink of collapse, some of his children are reported to have been captured by the rebels, while others are said to have fled the country

Record ID: 174240

  • Title: LIBYA/USA: As Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's rule appears on the brink of collapse, some of his children are reported to have been captured by the rebels, while others are said to have fled the country
  • Date: 23rd August 2011
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (FILE - APRIL 21, 2009) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (STATE DEPARTMENT TV) (*** FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ***) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON WELCOMING AL-MUTASSIM GADDAFI TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND EXCHANGING PLEASANTRIES
  • Embargoed: 7th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Libya
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6ROV6JMQGEI30SEQ821MEC7SK
  • Story Text: The fate of Muammar Gaddafi's family remained unclear on Monday (August 22) amid reports that some of his children had been captured and others had fled the country.
    In May, Gaddafi's wife Safia and daughter Aisha were reported to have crossed the border into Tunisia, according to a Tunisian security source.
    The pair were said to be on the island of Djerba, the source told Reuters.
    After the revolt began in February against Gaddafi's rule, Aisha Gaddafi made several public appearances backing her father and attacking the rebels and Western powers trying to overthrow him.
    In April, she appeared at her father's Bab al-Aziziyah compound in Tripoli and addressed cheering crowds of supporters in an event broadcast live on Libyan state television.
    A lawyer by training, Gaddafi's daughter runs a charitable foundation and in 2004 joined a team of lawyers defending former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
    Meanwhile, Libyan rebels captured Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi, Al Arabiya television reported on Monday, citing the head of the rebel National Transitional Council.
    Two other of Gaddafi's sons, Saif al-Islam and Mohammed, were also said to be in rebel hands.
    Another son, Al-Mutassim, was reported by al-Arabiya TV to be in the Bab al-Azizyah compound in Tripoli.
    However, separate unconfirmed reports said Al-Mutassim had last been seen fleeing the country in the direction of the Algerian border, alongside his brother Hannibal.
    Gaddafi himself has not been seen in public since mid-June and his foes speculate that he may not be in the Libyan capital or even in the country.
    Gaddafi has already lost members of his family in the conflict: a NATO air raid on Tripoli in April resulted in the death of his youngest son Saif al-Arab and three of his grandchildren.
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