Niger won't extradite Gadhafi son

MIDRAND, South Africa, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Niger's foreign minister said his country remains firm in its decision not to extradite Saadi Gadhafi, the son of ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Extradition of the former professional soccer player is sought by both Interpol, which issued a "red alert" for Saadi Gadhafi, and Libya's National Transitional Council, the Daily Maverick of South Africa reported Tuesday.

Saadi Gadhafi arrived in Niger last month with eight other Libyans.

Mohamed Bazoum, Niger's minister of foreign affairs, told a news conference Monday his country "cannot extradite a citizen to a country without the assurance of equitable justice."

"In Libya there is no government," Bazoum said. "Human Rights Watch yesterday revealed new findings about the conditions in Libyan prisons."

He said Saadi Gadhafi is not wanted by the International Criminal Court, which is seeking his father, brother Saif and Libya's former intelligence chief Abdullah Senussi.

Bazoum said the National Transitional Council was invited to interview Saaadi in Niger on Sept. 22 but the delegation from Libya never arrived.