NIGER: The exact location of Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi and four Libyan generals, who fled to Niger, remains unclear

Record ID: 235242

  • Title: NIGER: The exact location of Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi and four Libyan generals, who fled to Niger, remains unclear
  • Date: 16th September 2011
  • Summary: NIAMEY, NIGER (SEPTEMBER 15, 2011) (REUTERS) NEW LIBYAN FLAG AT LIBYAN EMBASSY VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF LIBYAN EMBASSY BILLBOARD READING "LIBYA - GIFT FROM THE GUIDE (GADDAFI) AND THE PEOPLE OF LIBYA TO THE NIGERIEN PEOPLE"/ROAD BUILT WITH LIBYAN FUNDING MORE OF STREET (SOUNDBITE) (French) NIAMEY RESIDENT, ABDUL SALAM, SAYING: "We learnt that Gaddafi's son is here in Niger, we heard that on the radio, but we don't know much about what's going on and what's happening." MORE OF STREET OUTSIDE EMBASSY (SOUNDBITE) (French) NIAMEY RESIDENT, TAHIROU, SAYING: "I think the only information worth believing is the one coming from the authorities, but the government spokesman has not told us anything about where he is staying, so we have no idea where he is staying." MORE OF STREET SCENES/TRAFFIC
  • Embargoed: 1st October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Niger, Niger
  • Country: Niger
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8GCJPMK9VJWRXKHC1EB4ALJJ0
  • Story Text: The arrival in Niger of 32 fleeing Muammar Gaddafi loyalists -- including Saadi, one of the ousted Libyan leader's sons -- in recent days, remains shrouded in mystery, with no word from Niger's government on Saadi's exact location.
    On the streets of Niger's capital Niamey, admiration for Gaddafi is still visible on billboards that thank 'The Guide' on the side of the road built with Libyan money.
    Keeping a guarded silence, the Nigerien government has kept secret the location and movements of Saadi Gaddafi, the last high ranking Libyan to cross into the country.
    "We learnt that Gaddafi's son is here in Niger, we heard that on the radio, but we don't know much about what's going on and what's happening," said Abdul Salam, a Niamey resident.
    Government officials refused to confirm on the record how Saadi arrived in Niamey, though most media, gathered at the airport in Agadez on Tuesday (September 13) night, believe he was flown to Niamey in a Nigerien military plane.
    A Nigerien government source, who asked not to be named, said Saadi was in a secure location, in a private villa under surveillance.
    "I think the only information worth believing is the one coming from the authorities, but the government spokesman has not told us anything about where he is staying, so we have no idea where he is staying," said another resident, Tahirou.
    The government of Niger was widely criticised last week for its method of dealing with the crisis, and lack of transparency when it came to the Libyan officials, whom it says it had received on humanitarian grounds.
    The International Criminal Court in the Hague has issued a warrant for Muammar Gaddafi and his son Saif al-Islam, but not for Saadi, who is chiefly known abroad for his obsession with soccer.
    Last week the Nigerien government said it would respect both its international obligations with the ICC to hand over anyone wanted by the ICC.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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