Gadhafi's Son Flees To Niger
Saadi Gadhafi, son of the fugitive Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi, has fled Libya and is now residing in Niger, according to reports Monday. The 38-year-old former footballer turned film investor is the latest former regime figure to flee the country.
Saadi with his 9-person convoy was seen crossing over the border into Niger this weekend and making their way to Niamey, Niger’s capital. Niger, who recognizes the National Transition Council’s authority, claimed to have let Gadhafi into the country on humanitarian grounds.
Saadi, who previously offered a failed negotiation attempt to end fighting, is now the fifth Gadhafi family figure to seek refuge in one the bordering countries.
During the family’s tenure he was known for his playboy antics and taste for luxury. A raid on his home last month uncovered a white Lamborghini and catalogues for yachts and cars while a 2009 WikiLeaks cable from the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli described him as having drug and alcohol abuse problems.
The U.S. is now urging Niger to detain any individuals who may be sought for prosecution in Libya.
Saaidi’s arrival in Niger is raising speculation that Gadhafi himself will soon seek refuge there. Gadhafi’s whereabouts are still unknown but he has vowed to die in Libya.
