Libyan court sentences Gaddafi’s son to death

A court in Libya has sentenced Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the most prominent son of former Libyan leader, to death over war crimes linked to the 2011 revolution.

Eight persons who served under the late Libyan leader also got the same sentence.

Saif al-Islam, who is being held by a former rebel group, was not in court when the verdict was given.

Gaddafi’s son is also wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Prosecutors say that he was part of his father’s plans to “quell, by all means, the civilian demonstrations against the Gaddafi regime”.

The trial, which opened last year, has been dogged by criticism from human rights agencies.

Other defendants have received sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment.

They faced charges including murder, kidnap and embezzlement, during the uprising that eventually toppled Gaddafi.

Since his overthrow Libya has been plagued by instability.

It currently has no single government, with two rival factions – one in Tobruk and one in Tripoli – each claiming to run the country.

Salah al-Bakkoush, a Tripoli-based political analyst, told Al Jazeera that he did not expect the rulings to have strong resonance in Libya.

“Libyans in general have so many problems right now that many were not even following the trial,” he said.

“Those who participated in the struggle against the regime of Gaddafi will be following and will be happy.”

Gaddafi was killed in October 2011 after being captured by rebels during Libya’s war. He had ruled Libya for four decades.