Saif Gaddafi Captured In Southern Libya

Colonel Gaddafi's fugitive son Saif al Islam has said he is feeling alright after being captured by fighters in southern Libya.

Saif, who had been on the run for three months, was arrested without firing a shot as he travelled in a convoy about 30 miles west of the town of Obari and was later flown to Zintan.

He was held along with two aides as he was trying to flee to neighbouring Niger, Libyan militia commander Bashir al Tayeleb said.

Saif was found with a few thousand dollars and his detention comes about a month after his father was killed in his hometown of Sirte.

The Zintan fighters, who make up one of the powerful militia factions in the country, said they planned to keep him in Zintan until a government was formed and then they would hand him over to the authorities.

Thunderous celebratory gunfire shook the Libyan capital as the news spread of Saif's capture.

Having made assurances as to his safety, the National Transitional Council has said he will be taken to Tripoli in the coming days. The government is due to be formed soon.

After his arrest, a photograph was circulated by the Free Libya group showing Saif with his fingers wrapped in bandages.

He told Reuters he was okay and that his hand was injured in a Nato air strike a month ago.

When asked on the plane which flew him to Zintan if he was feeling all right, Saif said simply: "Yes."

He was the last of Gaddafi's sons to be accounted for. The 39-year-old, who studied in the UK, is wanted for crimes against humanity.

An arrest warrant for Saif had been issued by the ICC since June 27.

An ICC prosecution office spokeswoman said: "We are co-ordinating with the Libyan Ministry of Justice to ensure that any solution with regards to the arrest of Saif al Islam is in accordance with the law."

An ICC prosecutor will travel to Libya soon for talks on where Saif will be tried.

Libya's prime minister Abdurrahim el Keib officially announced the capture, calling it the "crowning" of the uprising's efforts and promising a fair trial for him.

Ahmed Ammar, one of the captors, said they acted on a tip-off and discovered a vehicle carrying Saif and four others at about 1.30am (local time).

After the fighters fired in the air and ground in order to halt the cars, they asked the identity of the travellers.

They quickly recognised Saif and seized him without a fight."At the beginning he was very scared," said Mr Ammar. "He thought we would kill him."

In Zintan, an angry crowd of hundreds awaited the plane's arrival, preventing his captors from removing the prisoner for an hour. Some people tried to board the plane but were held back.

Anes el Sharif from the Tripoli military council told Sky News that efforts will be made to ensure Saif is treated fairly in custody.

"We don't want what happened [to Colonel Gaddafi] to be repeated again.

"This time we have to show that we are going to treat him well, despite what he has committed to the Libyan people."

Reporters in Tripoli were told Saif would be held in Zintan until there was a government to hand him over to.

The government is due to be formed within days.

"The rebels of Zintan announce that Saif al Islam Gaddafi has been arrested along with three of his aides today," Mr Tayeleb said in an announcement broadcast on Libyan television.

"We hope at this historical moment that the future of Libya will be bright."

There was still no information about wanted former intelligence director Abdullah Senoussi or where he is located.

Before the downfall of the Gaddafi regime, Saif was considered to be the presumptive heir.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said: "The Libyan Government's announcement of Saif al Islam's arrest shows we are near the end of the final chapter of the Gaddafi regime.

"It is a great achievement for the Libyan people and must now become a victory for international justice too. He could have contributed to a more open and decent future for his country, but instead chose to lead a bloody and barbaric campaign against his own people.

"The fate of the Gaddafis should act as a warning to brutal dictators everywhere."

Commentators say Libya is under pressure to handle the detention of Saif in a "civilized" way in the wake of Colonel Gaddafi's bloody death at the hands of rebels.

Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The government of Libya is on trial. Anything other than due process should not be tolerated.

"The UK did not commit in Libya to tolerate extra-judicial assassination as happened with his father.

"If Libya wishes to take its place among civilised nations it must take this opportunity to demonstrate it's commitment to the rule of law."