Niger says it won’t give up Gaddafi sonNovember 16, 2011 - 10:00 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Niger said that Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi will remain in the West African nation until a United Nations travel ban on him was lifted, despite Tripoli's request for his return, Reuters reported. Saadi fled south across the Sahara to Niger as his father's 42-year rule crumbled in August. He has been living in Niger since then, and Niamey says he has been granted asylum on humanitarian grounds. Saif al-Islam, another fugitive son of the former Libyan leader, is believed by many to have sought refuge in Niger or neighboring Mali's desert north but both states say he is not there. "We are obliged to respect this resolution. He is here, he cannot travel ... Until that resolution is revised, he will stay in Niger," Foreign Minister Bazoum Mohamed told state television. Interpol has issued a "red notice" requesting member states to arrest Saadi with a view to extradition if they find him on their territory. Ties between Niger and Libya's interim rulers are strained, with the authorities in Tripoli keen to see the Gaddafi sons, and any assets they took with them, sent home to face trial. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |