HRW wants rights secured for Gadhafi's son

TRIPOLI, Libya, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The world is watching how a new Libya handles justice for members of the former regime in their custody, Human Rights Watch said.

Human Rights Watch said its representatives visited Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, one of Moammar Gadhafi's sons, at a detention center in Zintan, Libya, last weekend.

The rights group said he told them he was treated well by Libyan authorities and receiving food and medical care. His primary concern was the lack of access to legal counsel.

Saif al-Islam and former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi were captured in November. Both are subject to arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court.

The ICC said it had evidence 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.

Abdelaziz al-Hasadi, the general prosecutor in Libya, told Human Rights Watch that Saif al-Islam would get access to a lawyer as soon as the government finds a safe place to secure him in Tripoli.

Fred Abrahams, special adviser at Human Rights Watch, said a new Libya should ensure the international community it was serious about justice during the transition period.

"The world is watching how Libya handles this case, and Libya should prove that it will grant Gadhafi all the rights that were too often denied in the past," he said in a statement.