Interpol wants Gaddafi’s son for ‘football crimes’

Saadi,38,was last seen in Niger and the red notice calls particularly on countries in the region to help locate and arrest him “with a view to returning him to Libya where an arrest warrant for him has been issued,” Interpol said.

“As the commander of military units allegedly involved in the repression of demonstrations by civilians during Libya’s uprising,Saadi Gaddafi is also subject to a United Nations travel ban and assets freeze,” it said.

Interpol said it was the first red notice issued at the request of the National Transitional Council,with previous such notices issued for Gaddafi himself and other members of his family at the request of the International Criminal Court.

Niger’s government said on September 16 that it would not send Saadi back to Libya,but could hand him over to another jurisdiction.

“With regard to (our) international obligations,we cannot send someone back there where he has no chance of receiving a fair trial and where he could face the death penalty,” government spokesman Marou Amadou said.

“On the other hand,if this gentleman or any other person is wanted by an independent court … which has universal competence over the crimes for which he is pursued,Niger will do its duty,” he said.

Saadi,the third of Gaddafi’s seven sons,renounced a football career in Italy in 2004 to join the army,where he led an elite unit.

He was captain of his national team and president of the Libyan football association and remained a grotesque symbol of ties between Libya and Italian football.