Gaddafi general ‘flees to Niger’

9 September 2011 Last updated at 06:49 ET

Muammar Gaddafi now has several international arrest warrants out for him

A senior general in Libyan ex-leader Col Muammar Gaddafi’s forces has fled to Niger, according to local sources.

Officials in the Niger town of Agadez named the commander as General Ali Kana, a Tuareg in charge of Col Gaddafi’s southern troops.

Interpol has issued an arrest warrant for Col Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and spy chief Abdullah al-Sanussi, whose whereabouts are still unknown.

Gaddafi loyalists still fighting face an ultimatum to surrender on Saturday.

The National Transitional Council (NTC) has been trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution to stand-offs in a handful of areas – including Bani Walid, Jufra, Sabha and Col Gaddafi’s birthplace of Sirte.

NTC forces last week warned loyalists that they must surrender by Saturday, or face a military onslaught.

Col Gaddafi has said he will not leave – and urged his supporters to fight.

But in recent days several convoys of formerly loyal fighters have streamed over the border with Niger.

A number of Col Gaddafi’s aides – including his chief of security Mansour Daw – have already reached the capital, Niamey.

Officials in Agadez said the latest convoy consisted of at least three vehicles carrying a dozen people – among them at least two senior generals and four top officials.

The BBC’s Thomas Fessy in Niamey says the trucks passed through Agadez and are believed to be heading to the capital.

Reuters news agency reported that they were accompanied by security forces from Niger.

The central government has not yet commented on the latest claims.

Many Tuareg former rebels from Mali and Niger were trained in Libya in the 1970s and 80s.

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