Pillay hails arrest of Gadhafi's son

GENEVA, Switzerland, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- The arrests of Saif al-Islam Gadhafi and the Libyan intelligence chief have "enormous significance" for a free Libya, a U.N. human rights official said.

Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, one of Moammar Gadhafi's surviving sons, and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi were captured last weekend. Both are subject to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.

Navi Pillay, U.N. high commissioner for human rights, in a statement, said she welcomed pledges by the interim government to treat both men in line with international standards.

"The arrests of Gaddafi's son and the former director of military intelligence have enormous significance for the future of justice in Libya," she added.

Moammar Gadhafi died in October after falling into rebel custody near his hometown of Sirte. Human rights groups suspect he was executed.

The ICC said it had evidence that civilians were attacked in their homes, demonstrators were fired on with live ammunition and snipers were used to kill those leaving mosques after prayers in Libya.

Christian Wenaweser, a senior official at the ICC, said from New York that Libya maintains primary jurisdiction when trying former regime figures of suspected crimes.

"Should the Libyan authorities wish to try (Saif al-Islam Gadhafi) in Libya, they can make the case before the court that their national judicial system is willing and able to do so in an independent and impartial manner," he said in a statement.