Libya: Investigation Launched into the Death of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi

SadaNews - The Libyan Attorney General, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, announced today, Wednesday, the commencement of an investigation into the death of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and the examination of his remains.

The Attorney General's investigation office stated in a release, "Following the receipt of a report regarding the death of citizen Saif al-Islam Muammar Gaddafi, the investigators executed the Attorney General's order, which authorized them to gather information."

The statement indicated that "the investigators moved to the location, conducted the examination, seized items, appointed experts, and heard witnesses and anyone who could provide clarifications regarding the incident."

It confirmed that "the investigative team included forensic doctors and experts who examined the body."

Preliminary investigations, according to the statement, indicated that Gaddafi was subjected to gunfire that led to his death.

The political advisor to Saif al-Islam, the son of the late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi, announced that his assassination occurred when four armed men stormed his home in the town of Zintan on Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Libyan News Agency quoted "the 444 Brigade" affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of the unity government as categorically denying the rumors circulating on social media regarding its involvement in the clashes that took place in Zintan, and the accompanying news about the death of Saif al-Islam."

Since his capture during the armed revolution that toppled his father Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, Saif al-Islam has lived in Zintan, although no one publicly knew his location even after his release in 2017.

In recent years, Saif al-Islam's name has emerged in the political scene amidst a dispute over his candidacy for presidential elections that Libyans still hope will be held in the country to end its crises.

In Libya, two governments are competing: the first is the National Unity Government led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, based in Tripoli, which administers the entire west of the country, and the other was appointed by the House of Representatives in early 2022, headed by Osama Hamad, based in Benghazi, which oversees eastern Libya and most cities in the south.