Libya Denies Media Reports Of Gaddafi Intel Chief Handover
A Libyan source on Thursday denied the Libyan government received Abdullah Senussi, the powerful Director of Intelligence in the era of Gaddafi. This denial came after conflicting reports about the possible extradition of Senussi by Mauritania to the following negotiations conducted by the Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Rahim Kib with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on Wednesday.
It is noteworthy that the Libyan authorities raised the security alert in the country to the maximum levels, declaring a state of emergency. This step was taken ahead o next week’s parliamentary elections.
According to media sources, the Libyan Prime Minister asked Wednesday during his talks in Nouakchott with the Mauritanian President the extradition of Senussi. “We expressed the desire of Libyans to see this person (Senussi) return to his homeland for standing to a fair trial,” said El Kib following his meeting with Abdel Aziz.
“Senoussi will be treated during his presence in Libya in a manner that reflects the new face of Libya which will preserve his rights as a Libyan citizen and as a person,” he added. “The file is in safe hands and we feel that the former intelligence chief of Muammar Gaddafi will return to his country, will be tried fairly and treated in a way that ensures dignity,” he said.
The Libyan Prime Minister’s visit, the first of a senior Libyan official in Mauritania since the fall of the Gaddafi regime, came one day after a telephone conversation between the head of the Libyan Transitional National Council (TNC), Mustapha Abdeljalil, with President Abdelaziz Oueld. The TNC President had reiterated its request for the extradition of Senoussi, who was arrested in March in Mauritania before being charged May 21 for a forgery of travel documents and illegal entry into the country. He has been detained in Nouakchott.
