Reports and social media photographs purport that Saif al-Islam Qaddafi, son of the former dictator Muamar Qaddafi, has been killed late on Tuesday. Despite social media appearance of photos, no hospital has reported receipt of his corpse. The Tripoli government has not confirmed or commented on the story.
In a statement, Abdullah Othman, Saif Qaddafi’s political adviser, and his lawyer Khaled al-Zaidi, confirmed the news of his ‘‘assassination’’ to Libyan media outlets.
They said the assassination occurred Tuesday afternoon at his home in the city of Zintan. They claim it was carried out by ‘‘four masked men’’ who stormed his residence and attempted to disable the security cameras in a desperate effort to conceal their heinous crime.
‘‘A direct confrontation ensued, during which God chose to take Saif al-Islam to His side’’. We hold the Libyan judiciary, the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations accountable for their legal and moral responsibilities, they added.
‘‘We demand an independent and transparent local and international investigation to uncover the circumstances of this heinous crime and identify the perpetrators and those who orchestrated it.
This crime is an assassination of the chances for peace and stability in Libya, and it will not go unpunished. All those involved in planning and executing it will be pursued and held accountable.
We call upon our people to exercise restraint, wisdom, and patience. The deceased believed that Libya was above all else and that the stability of the nation was the goal for which he gave his life.
The true response to the killers is to adhere to his national project and remain steadfast in his principles. His blood will forever be a curse that haunts the traitors’’, the statement concluded.
The Attorney General has opened an investigation into the incident.
444th Combat Brigade denies news of its involvement as misinformation
Meanwhile, in response, Libya’s Tripoli based 444th Combat Brigade said Tuesday it ‘‘categorically denies the rumours circulating on social media regarding its involvement in the clashes that occurred in the city of Zintan, and the accompanying reports of the death of Saif al-Islam Qaddafi.’’
The 444th Combat Brigade affirmed the following:
• The brigade has no military presence or deployment within the city of Zintan or its surrounding area.
• The brigade has not received any instructions or orders concerning the pursuit of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, nor is this within our military or security mandate.
• The brigade is not involved in the events in Zintan and has no direct or indirect connection to the clashes taking place there.
The 444th Combat Brigade urges media outlets and social media users to exercise accuracy in reporting information, rely on official statements, and avoid being misled by rumours intended to sow confusion, create chaos, and spread misinformation.
