War crimes prosecutor in Libya to probe case

Tripoli War crimes prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo arrived in Tripoli Wednesday to continue investigating charges against Muammar Gaddafi's detained son, Saif Al Islam, sought for trial by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Hague-based court issued an arrest warrant for Saif Al Islam last year, after prosecutors accused him and others of involvement in the killing of protesters during the revolt that eventually toppled his father.

However Libya has insisted he will be tried in his home country, despite having still been unable to prize him out of the hands of the militia fighters who caught him in the southern desert in November.

Saif Al Islam remains in a secret location in the western town of Zintan. Upon arrival at Tripoli airport, Moreno-Ocampo told reporters: "I'm here because I am still investigating crimes."

Asked whether a potential deal was being brokered with the Libyan government about trying Saif Al Islam in Libya under the supervision of the ICC, he said: "I am a prosecutor at the ICC, I don't make deals. We apply the law.

"The judges of ICC ordered [Libya] to surrender Saif. The Libyan government says they will challenge the admissibility of the case before the end of April and then the judges will decide."

The ICC rejected Libya's request to postpone handing over Saif Al Islam to face war crimes charges. The court ordered Tripoli to "comply with its obligations to enforce the warrant of arrest" and surrender him without delay. Libya has appealed the decision.