Gaddafi's Son in Prison Cell with 'Missing Fingers'

KOMPAS.com - There were scenes of joy in Tripoli yesterday after Muammar Gaddafi's son and heir apparent Saif al-Islam was captured in the southern desert of Libya. And he now faces the prospect of going on trial in Libya for serious crimes that carry the death penalty, according to justice officials.

Saif al-Islam, who had vowed to die fighting but was taken without a struggle, was apprehended overnight, officials said. He was arrested with several bodyguards near the town of Obari by fighters based in the western mountain town of Zintan.

Libya's prime minister officially confirmed the capture of Muammar Gaddafi's son tonight, calling it the 'crowning' of the uprising's efforts and promising a fair trial for Saif al-Islam.

'We assure Libyans and the world that Saif al-Islam will receive a fair trial... under fair legal processes which our own people had been deprived of for the last 40 years,' Abdurrahim El-Keib said, amid chants of 'Allahu Akbar' (God is greatest) at a news conference.

Muammar Gaddafi was captured by rebels while trying to flee the oil-rich desert nation a month ago. Already wounded, the deposed dictator was paraded before crowds and cameras. It is understood he was then executed by the mob with a gun shot to the head.

A photograph, released earlier this afternoon, shows Saif al-Islam sat in a prison cell on a bed, under a blanket, with heavily bandaged fingers. It appears to reveal he is now missing several fingers on his right hand - backing up previous reports he had the digits blown off in an attack.

After being apprehended, he was flown to Zintan, where, upon landing, a mob tried to storm his aircraft. He said he felt fine after being captured by some of the fighters who overthrew his father, and said injuries to his right hand were suffered during a Nato air strike a month ago.

Asked on the plane which flew him to the town of Zintan if he was feeling all right, Gaddafi said simply: 'Yes.' Reluctant to speak at length, the London-educated heir to Gaddafi was asked about bandages on the thumb and two fingers. 'Air force, air force,' he said.

Asked if that meant a Nato air strike, he said: 'Yes. One month ago.'

'At the beginning he was very scared - he thought we would kill him," Ahmed Ammar, one of his captors, said.