Libya urges neighbors to hand over former regime figures

Libyan leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil urged its neighboring countries to hand over former regime figures who have fled the country, saying bilateral ties could be threatened if they did not cooperate. “The NTC, the transitional government and the Libyan people reached out to our neighbors to respect each other and not intervene in our internal issues but we are sorry that they didn’t listen to us,” he told a news conference. “They are hosting the enemies of the Libyan people, those who stole Libyan money and killed Libyans. We have evidence that these people committed crimes,” he added, without naming those whom Libya wanted handed over. Libyan authorities had arrested people planning to carry out terrorist attacks with the support of remnants of Muammar Qaddafi regime living in neighboring countries, he added, without providing further details. Abdel Jalil accused neighboring countries of sheltering the enemies of the Libyan people and ignoring calls from the public prosecutor to extradite them, despite the existence of incriminating proof. “Unfortunately, these countries didn’t take any judicial action,” he said, adding they had also failed to prevent supporters of the toppled Qaddafi regime from stirring unrest and committing new crimes against the Libyan people. Earlier this month Libya urged Niger to extradite Qaddafi’s son, Saadi, after he vowed to return to his homeland to spur a rebellion against the new authorities. Niger declined on the grounds that it had no guarantee Saadi would receive a dignified trial in Libya and not be killed. Former rebels captured Qaddafi along with his son, Mutassim, in his hometown of Sirte in October. Both were killed in murky circumstances raising doubts over the new authorities capacity to deliver justice and prevent revenge. “We are capable of delivering a fair trial,” for people wanted by the authorities, Abdel Jalil said. But he warned “the Libyan people will not forgive any country that delays the act of handing over these criminals.” Pressed by journalists, Abdel Jalil also dismissed rumors of foreign intervention in the southeastern city of Kufra which was at the heart of deadly tribal clashes that mobilized the army and humanitarian agencies. “This is internal strife between tribes,” he said.