Gaddafi's son wanted as torture watchdog

[emad]

By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor
(Filed: 26/01/2006)

Britain is seeking to convince the son of Libya's leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi, to act as an "independent" watchdog to ensure that his father's regime does not torture terrorist suspects deported from the UK, diplomatic sources confirmed last night.

Seif al-Islam, who runs a charitable foundation, is the most prominent voice for political reform in Libya, and often acts as Col Gaddafi's envoy to the outside world -not least in dealing with the difficult negotiations for compensation for the victims of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.

British officials said they were negotiating with the Libyan government to appoint his Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity Associations as the "independent monitor" under the terms of a "memorandum of understanding" with Tripoli.

This allows Britain to deport Libyans suspected of terrorism to Libya, on condition that they are not tortured or killed. Similar agreements have been signed with Jordan and Lebanon. The well-being of the prisoners is supposed to be verified by a local "independent monitor", but many will question whether the son of the Libyan leader can offer an adequate guarantee.

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