Gaddafi's Son: I'm Innocent Of War Crimes

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's fugitive son has apparently told the International Criminal Court (ICC) that he is innocent of alleged crimes against humanity.

Saif al Islam has made informal contact with prosecutors in The Hague via "intermediaries", according to the ICC's Luis Moreno-Ocampo.

Saif, 39, is wanted along with his father's security chief Abdullah al Senussi, 62, for war crime charges allegedly committed during the Libyan uprising.

Mr Moreno-Ocampo said the ICC was not making any deal with Saif, but explaining through the contacts that he had to face trial.

"He says he is innocent," Mr Moreno-Ocampo said.

"The office of the prosecutor has made it clear that if he surrenders to the ICC, he has the right to be heard in court, he is innocent until proven guilty."

However, it is believed the former Libyan heir-apparent was being guarded by mercenaries who are prepared to take him to a friendly African state.

During the week, a senior spokesman for Libya's interim government said Saif had crossed into Niger following the death of his father.

Niger, along with Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso, are all signatories to the treaty that set up the ICC.

As a result, Saif may attempt to flee elsewhere in Africa, with unconfirmed reports suggesting South African mercenaries were working to fly him out.

Mr Moreno-Ocampo said: "We have some information that there is a group trying to help him to move to a different country, so we are trying to prevent this activity."

France, a key backer of Nato's air mission in Libya during the uprising, reminded Africans of their obligation to hand over Saif.

Foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said: "We don't care whether he goes on foot, by plane, by boat, by car or on a camel, the only thing that matters is that he belongs in the ICC."