Official: Gadhafi’s son flees to Niger

Associated Press

NIAMEY, Niger

A convoy carrying ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s son al-Saadi has crossed into neighboring Niger, a spokesman for Niger’s government said Sunday, one of the highest-profile former regime figure to flee to the landlocked African nation.

Al-Saadi, the fugitive ruler’s 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 Gadhafi’s sons — al-Saadi Gadhafi — was intercepted in the north of Niger by a patrol of the Nigerien military,” Morou told reporters late Sunday.

He said al-Saadi “has no status at all” in Niger, indicating that he has not been granted refugee status, which would guarantee him 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 Gadhafi’s top military officers, including his chief of security and the head of his southern command.