Libya asks Niger to hand over Gadhafi son after talk of uprising - Austin American-Statesman

ASSOCIATED PRESS

TRIPOLI, Libya — Libya demanded that Niger hand over one of Moammar Gadhafi's sons who is under house arrest in the neighboring African nation after he warned in a television interview that his homeland was facing a new uprising.

The demand came days before the first anniversary of the Feb. 17 start of the uprising that led to months of civil war and the eventual ouster and death of the longtime Libyan leader. Al-Saadi Gadhafi and more than 30 other loyalists fled to Niger after Tripoli fell to rebels in September.

Niger Justice Minister Morou Amadou confirmed the demand had been received but said Niger's government has refused to extradite Al-Saadi Gadhafi and the others to Libya because they risk being killed. However, Amadou said the government would agree to extradite Al-Saadi Gadhafi to the Hague upon request by the International Criminal Court.

Gadhafi's son told Al-Arabiya TV that supporters of his father's ousted regime "are suffering tremendously" in Libyan prisons at the hands of the country's new rulers. He also said his return to Libya was imminent.

He said he is in contact with people in Libya on a daily basis and claimed "70 percent of Libyans are unhappy with the current circumstances. They are ready to cooperate to change these conditions."

"There is an uprising that will happen everywhere in the country," he said. "This will be a new popular uprising."