US says Niger to detain Gaddafi's son Saadi

Saadi Gaddafi, the third son of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, reacts to a question at a news conference in Sydney in this February 7, 2005 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - The US government said on Monday that the government of Niger had confirmed that Saadi Gaddafi, the son of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, has entered Niger and the country intended to detain him.

"We have confirmed with the government of Niger that Saadi crossed over, that they are either in the process or have already brought him to the capital of Niamey and intend to detain him," State Department Victoria Nuland told reporters.

She said although Saadi is not on the sanction list of the UN Security Council Resolution 1970, the government of Niger "has made clear to the TNC that it is prepared to cooperate with the Libyan Transitional National Council (TNC) on the disposition of these people."

"The TNC is trying to make its own decisions about what it thinks the appropriate course of action is," she added.

However, media reports quoted Nigerien government sources as saying on Monday that the west African country has not detained Saadi Gaddafi, but is keeping him under surveillance instead.

Earlier reports quoted Niger's Prime Minister Brigi Rafini as saying on Monday that 32 members of Gaddafi's camp, including his son Saadi Gaddafi, have entered Niger since September 2. The US government has been urging the government of Niger to detain them.