Gaddafi's son, spy chief to be tried in Libya

TRIPOLI - Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's eldest son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senoussi will stand trial in Libya as early as next month, a spokesperson for Libya's attorney general said Monday.

Tara Barra added that Saif al-Islam and Senoussi will be put on trial in a month, pending the completion of questioning of Senoussi.

Last week, Libya's justice ministry announced that Saif al- Islam, along with former Prime Minister al-Baghdadi Ali al- Mahmoudi and Senoussi, will be tried as soon as the questioning is completed within the next month.

Barra's announcement came amid an ongoing battle between Libya and the International Criminal Court (ICC) over where Saif al- Islam should face justice.

In 2011, the ICC issued warrants against Senoussi as well as Gaddafi and Saif al-Islam over charges of crimes against humanity stemming from the crackdown on anti-Gaddafi protesters.

Saif al-Islam's ICC lawyers argued that their client would not receive a fair trial in Libya, because he could face death penalty. But representatives of the Libyan authorities said he should be tried in the country where he is accused of committing crimes.

The Libyan authorities have repeatedly rejected requests to hand him over for trial in The Hague.