Gaddafi's Son Saif Is Sentenced To Death

Col Muammar Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, and eight others to death over war crimes linked to the 2011 revolution.

More than 30 close associates of the deposed leader were on trial, accused of suppressing protests during the uprising.

Saif al-Islam was not present in court and gave evidence via video link.

He is being held by a former rebel group from the town of Zintan that refuses to hand him over.

Former head of intelligence for the Gaddafi regime, Abdullah al-Senussi, is among those also facing the death penalty, as is former PM Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi.

Educated at the London School of Economics, he was the most high-profile of Colonel Gaddafi's eight children.

He was once considered Libya's de-facto prime minister and tipped by Western governments to one day lead the country towards democracy.

But he refused to abandon his father when protests erupted in several Libyan cities in early 2011.

Colonel Gaddafi was eventually captured and killed by rebel fighters in his hometown of Sirte in October of that year.

A month later, Saif was found by fighters from the Zintan brigade trying to cross into Niger. He has been held ever since.

Three of Colonel Gaddafi's sons were killed during the uprising, including former National Security Adviser Mutassim who was found hiding alongside his father.

The ex-dictator's widow Safiya Gaddafi and three of their children - Aisha, Hannibal and Mohammed - fled to Algeria in August 2011 as rebel forces seized Tripoli.

Another son, Saadi Gaddafi, who had a brief career as a footballer in Italy, appeared in a Tripoli court in May on murder charges.