Mauritania has not agreed to hand over spy chief

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) ? A high-ranking government official is denying that Mauritania had agreed to hand over one of Moammar Gadhafi's ex-intelligence chief for trial in Libya.

His comment comes only hours after Libya's spokesman told reporters that Mauritania was planning to extradite Abdullah al-Senoussi back to Libya.

The official, who is close to the negotiations and who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussion, told The Associated Press by telephone that "Mauritania had given no assurances whatsoever to Libya regarding handing over al-Senoussi."

He adds that Libya had gone ahead with the declaration in order to "force Mauritania's hand."

Gadhafi's former intelligence chief is accused of attacking civilians during the uprising in Libya last year and of the 1989 bombing of a French airliner.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania (AP) ? 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 and confirmed his identity. Mauritanian officials had no immediate comment.

The former intelligence chief 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 was also the ousted leader's brother-in-law.

Al-Senoussi was detained Saturday in Mauritania.

The International Criminal Court, France and Libya have all said they want to prosecute al-Senoussi.

He is wanted in Libya for a number of crimes, including his alleged role in the Abu Salim prison massacre of more than 1,200 prisoners by Gadhafi's regime in 1996.

Judges at the Netherlands-based ICC issued an arrest warrant for al-Senoussi and Gadhafi's son Seif al-Islam last June for crimes against humanity, including multiple murders, allegedly 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 ICC.

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 French people. The French government asked last year that he be handed over to France when captured.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mauritania-not-agreed-hand-over-spy-chief-193049680.html

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