Mauritania hands over Gadhafi’s former spy chief

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania - Agence France-Presse

Mauritanian authorities have handed over Moammar Gadhafi’s ex-spy chief to Libya nearly five months after he was arrested for entering the country illegally, state television reported yesterday.

“Mauritanian authorities hand over ex-Libyan spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi to Libya,” read a newsflash on the screen written in Arabic. An official source speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that al-Senussi had “effectively left Mauritania.” Al-Senussi was one of the last members of Gadhafi’s inner circle to be arrested. Others still at large include Gadhafi’s son Saadi, who has taken refuge in Niger. A delegation from Libya, including the defense minister and army chief of staff, was in Nouakchott on Sept. 4 for a visit which several official sources said was in connection with the extradition.

Senussi, the former head of military intelligence in Libya, played a “crucial” role in crushing the popular revolt that eventually ousted the Gadhafi regime late last year.