NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania — Mauritania will hand over former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senoussi, one of Moammar Gadhafi’s closest associates who also is wanted by the International Criminal Court, for trial in his home country, a Libyan official said Wednesday.
“The Mauritanian government has given their agreement for the extradition of Abdullah al-Senoussi to Libya so he can be judged by a fair process,” said Libyan spokesman Nasser al-Manei.
He did not say when the move might happen, but said the Libyan delegation had visited al-Senoussi in his cell in Mauritania’s capital, Nouakchott, and confirmed his identity.
Hours later, however, a high-ranking Mauritanian government official denied that the country had agreed to hand over one of Gadhafi’s ex-intelligence chiefs for trial in Libya.
The official, who is close to the negotiations and who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussion, said “Mauritania had given no assurances whatsoever to Libya regarding handing over al-Senoussi.”
He added that Libya had gone ahead with the declaration to “force Mauritania’s hand.”
Al-Senoussi is accused of orchestrating attacks on civilians during the uprising in Libya last year and of the 1989 bombing of a French airliner. He was considered Gadhafi’s“black box” and known to be among his inner circle of confidants. He also was the ousted leader’s brother-in-law.
Al-Senoussi was detained Saturday in Mauritania. The International Criminal Court, France and Libya have each said they want to prosecute him.
He is wanted in Libya over a number of crimes, including his purported role in the Abu Salim prison massacre of more than 1,200 inmates by Gadhafi’s regime in 1996.
Meanwhile, a Tuareg rebel leader who belonged to Gadhafi’s inner circle and who led the last Tuareg uprising in the West African nation of Niger was arrested overnight in Niger’s capital, a family member said Wednesday.
Aghaly Alambo led a Tuareg rebellion against the government of Niger from 2007 to 2009. The peace accord was brokered by Gadhafi. After the end of the fighting, Alambo exiled himself to Tripoli where he became one of Gadhafi’s trusted aides, staying at his side until just before the fall of the capital last year.
Ahmad Ahlawey, a relative of Alambo’s, said by telephone that the rebel leader was called in to see a judge late Tuesday. After an interrogation lasting several hours, Alambo was transferred to the Niamey prison, the relative said. His arrest was confirmed by parliamentarian Moussa Saidou.
Ahlawey said the government is accusing Alambo of being linked to an explosivesloaded three-car convoy that was stopped trying to cross into Niger from Libya recently. Security forces in Niger discovered 1,320 pounds of explosives, said Ahlawey. The incident, and Alambo’s purported link to it, has not been discussed by the government.
When he returned to Niger last September, Alambo became an adviser to the head ofthe National Assembly. But his relationship to the government he once tried to overthrow always remained touchy.
It was his Tuareg kinsmen who helped ferry Gadhafi’s son and three of his generals across the desert border to Niger late last year.
Judges at the Netherlands based International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for al-Senoussi and Gadhafi’s son Seif al-Islam in June on charges of crimes against humanity, including multiple murders, purportedly committed during the uprising that eventually toppled Gadhafi from power.
The court also indicted Gadhafi, but the ousted leader was killed by rebel fighters in October.
Mauritania is not a member of the court.
Seif al-Islam, Gadhafi’s former heir apparent, was arrested in November by fighters in Libya’s remote southern desert and has been held largely without access to the outside world. Libyan authorities say they want to put him on trial at home instead of turning him over him to the international court.
France convicted al-Senoussi and five other Libyans in absentia and sentenced them to life in prison in France for the 1989 bombing of a passenger jet over Niger that killed all 170 people on board including 54 Frenchmen. The French government asked last year that he be handed over to France when captured.
Information for this article was contributed by Rukmini Callimachi and Dalatou Mamane of The Associated Press.
Front Section, Pages 2 on 03/22/2012