Dishevelled and smeared in sand, new pictures show moment Gaddafi's playboy son Saif was captured by rebels

By MARTIN DELGADO and HUGO GYE



Captured: Saif Al Islam Gaddafi in the moments after he was captured in western Libya yesterday



This is the moment Colonel Gaddafi's heir was captured by rebel forces as he tried to flee the country his family had ruled for four decades.

Looking dishevelled, covered in dust and without his western-style glasses, Saif Al Islam looked a far cry from the urbane diplomat who tried to burnish Libya's reputation abroad.

Pictures of him surrounded by rebels show him looking downcast and desperate to avoid the grisly fate of his father.



Scared: Saif looks nervous as he sits surrounded by his rebel captors, and he looks at his injured hand



A minister said today that Saif will be tried in Libya, rather than being handed over to the International Criminal Court.

But the rebels who captured him say they will not hand him over to the Libyan government until it has set up a new court system.

The trial of Saif, who was apprehended yesterday, could prove highly embarrassing for influential British figures – including Prince Andrew and Tony Blair – if he reveals details of the close links he enjoyed with them.

The 39-year-old former playboy and womaniser was captured by rebels from the western mountain town of Zindan while trying to flee across the border into Niger.



Deposed: The former heir to Colonel Gaddafi's regime was held at the mercy of a rebel militia



Saif was snared in Libya's southern desert with only a handful of supporters by fighters from the mountain town of Zintan



The head of Zintan's military council, Colonel Mohammed al-Khabash, said today that Saif will be held in Zintan until a court system is established in Libya.

And the nation's information minister has confirmed that he will be tried in Libya, where he 'committed crimes against Libyan people'.

Mahmoud Shammam said Libya's National Transitional Council will discuss its decision with the ICC's chief prosecutor when he visits Libya tomorrow.

But although Saif is wanted by the ICC on charges of crimes against humanity, Mr Shammam said: 'The ICC is just a secondary court, and the people of Libya will not allow Saif Al Islam to be tried outside.'



These mobile phone pictures were taken by one of the men guarding the captive Saif



Booty: Saif's western-style glasses and a stack of U.S. dollars which he was carrying when he was captured



source: dailymail