The National Transitional Council (NTC) must transfer Saif al-Islam Gaddafi to face investigation at the International Criminal Court (ICC), Amnesty International said today after reports that he has been captured near the border with Niger.

Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director, said:

"If reports are correct that Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi has been captured by the Libyan authorities, he must be handed over to the ICC, and his safety and rights must be guaranteed.

"After what happened after the capture of Mu’ammar and Mu’tassim al-Gaddafi, we hold the NTC responsible for preventing similar harm coming to Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, so that he can face justice for his alleged crimes in a fair trial with no death penalty.

"Investigating Saif al-Islam before the ICC offers an opportunity to ensure justice, truth and reparation for the victims of the crimes against humanity he is charged with committing against the Libyan people - justice that may have been denied with the apparently unlawful killing of Mu'ammar al-Gaddafi."

In June, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, along with Colonel Mu’ammar al-Gaddafi and former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi, on two counts of crimes against humanity – murder and persecution.