Gadhafi's son al-Saadi flees to Niger

According to a spokesman for Nigers government, Gadhafis son al-Saadi has crossed into neighboring Niger.Al-Saadi, the fugitive rulers 37-year-old son, entered Niger in a convoy with nine other people, said Niger Justice Minister Amadou Morou. The vehicles were traveling south toward the outpost of Agadez, where other fleeing Libyan loyalists are believed to be holed up in a hotel.I wish to announce that one of Gadhafis sons al-Saadi Gadhafi was intercepted in the north of Niger by a patrol of the Nigerien military, Morou told reporters late Sunday.Morou said that al-Saadi has no status at all in Niger, indicating that he has not been granted refugee status, which is guarantees certain rights.Since last week, several convoys carrying senior officials of the former Libyan regime as well as civilians and soldiers have made their way across the porous desert border into Niger. Among them were several of Gadhafis top military officers, including his chief of security and the head of his southern command.Niger has faced increasing scrutiny for allowing the former regime members onto its soil, and al-Saadis arrival will likely intensify pressure on the country to hold the individuals and cooperate with Libyas new rulers. They want all Gadhafis sons and Gadhafi himself, who is on the run to be turned over for trial.The U.S. has already urged Niger to detain any individual who may be subject to prosecution in Libya, as well as to confiscate their weapons and impound any state property, such as money or jewels, that were illegally taken out of the country.While some senior former regime officials have managed to escape, Libyas new leaders have arrested several former high ranking regime officials since then-rebel fighters swept into Tripoli on Aug. 21, effectively bring an end to Gadhafis nearly 42-year rule.There were claims that al-Saadi and Gadhafis most important son, Seif al-Islam, were seen in Bani Walid after the fall of Tripoli.Rebel forces battled their way back into Bani Walid Sunday, seizing control of the northern half of the town and fighting supporters of the fugitive dictator in the town center.After a week of efforts to negotiate a peaceful surrender of Bani Walid, anti-regime fighters launched a two-pronged assault on the town that soon dissolved into street fighting. But Gadhafi supporters have put up fierce resistance, and forced former rebels to retreat Saturday amid a barrage of rocket and mortar fire.