The International Criminal Court (ICC) has welcomed the news of former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi's son Saif al-Islam's capture in the south of the country.
Saif al-Islam is wanted by The Hague-based court for crimes against humanity.
The ICC said that "the Libyan authorities have taken a major step towards ensuring accountability and due process rights and towards fulfilling their obligations under international law."
Luis Moreno Ocampo, the ICC's top prosecutor, earlier said he would travel to Libya next week for talks with the country's transitional government on where Saif al-Islam will be tried.
"The good news is Saif al-Islam Qaddafi is arrested and that is very important because we consider, and the judges consider him one of the most, the principal, with his father Muammar, on the crimes committed in Libya after February 17," Ocampo said.
"So that's crucially important. He's arrested, he's alive and now he will face justice and that is the most important news."
Libya's interim Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib told a news conference in the city of Zintan that Saif al-Islam would be given a fair trial.
The European Union on November 20 urged Libyan authorities to ensure that Saif al-Islam is brought to justice in full cooperation with the ICC.
Michael Mann, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said the capture of Saif al-Islam was a "significant development" that could help national reconciliation after a bloody civil war.
The United States urged the Libyan authorities to ensure he receives "humane treatment."
compiled from agency reports
Saif al-Islam is wanted by The Hague-based court for crimes against humanity.
The ICC said that "the Libyan authorities have taken a major step towards ensuring accountability and due process rights and towards fulfilling their obligations under international law."
Luis Moreno Ocampo, the ICC's top prosecutor, earlier said he would travel to Libya next week for talks with the country's transitional government on where Saif al-Islam will be tried.
"The good news is Saif al-Islam Qaddafi is arrested and that is very important because we consider, and the judges consider him one of the most, the principal, with his father Muammar, on the crimes committed in Libya after February 17," Ocampo said.
"So that's crucially important. He's arrested, he's alive and now he will face justice and that is the most important news."
Libya's interim Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib told a news conference in the city of Zintan that Saif al-Islam would be given a fair trial.
The European Union on November 20 urged Libyan authorities to ensure that Saif al-Islam is brought to justice in full cooperation with the ICC.
Michael Mann, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said the capture of Saif al-Islam was a "significant development" that could help national reconciliation after a bloody civil war.
The United States urged the Libyan authorities to ensure he receives "humane treatment."
compiled from agency reports