PARIS (dpa) – Interpol on Sunday issued its highest-level warrant for the arrest of Moamer Gaddafi's former spy chief, Abdullah al-Senussi, at Libya's request. The Red Notice, described by Interpol as “the closest instrument to an international arrest warrant in use today,” comes after the 62-year-old was arrested in Mauritania on Friday for fraud offences. The Interpol warrant relates to the embezzling of public funds and misuse of power for personal benefit. “Interpol has committed itself to supporting Libya's efforts to achieve its goal of rebuilding their country,” Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble said in a statement. “Their request for an Interpol Red Notice for al-Senussi is a clear demonstration of their commitment to international police cooperation and justice,” he added Libya has asked Mauritania to hand over al-Senussi to be tried at home. But both France and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague are also seeking to extradite him. Al-Senussi was one of six Libyans convicted in absentia by a French court in 1999 and sentenced to life in prison for the 1989 bombing of a flight, which killed all 170 passengers, including 54 French citizens. The ICC in June indicted al-Senussi and Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, for crimes against humanity for their role in the crackdown on the rebellion against Gaddafi's regime. In November last year it also accepted a Libyan request to try them in Libya, but insisted that its judges be informed and involved in the trials. Gaddafi was killed by rebel fighters in October last year in his hometown of Sirte. Saif al-Islam was captured by Libyan fighters in November in the south of Libya. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/qHm3c Tags: al-Senussi, Arrest Warrant, Interpol Issues Section: Latest News, Libya
