Libya holding four International Criminal Court staffers

Libyan authorities are holding four International Criminal Court (ICC) staff members, the ICC revealed Saturday, dpa reported.

ICC President Judge Sang-Hyun Song has called for the immediate release of the court staff, who traveled to Libya Thursday to meet with Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of slain leader Moamer Gaddafi being held on charges of crimes against humanity.

"We are very concerned about the safety of our staff in the absence of any contact with them," said the ICC president. "These four international civil servants have immunity when on an official ICC mission. I call on the Libyan authorities to immediately take all necessary measures to ensure their safety and security and to liberate them".

The news followed an earlier report Saturday that Libya had arrested an ICC lawyer for carrying "suspicious" documents for Gaddafi, said a Libyan lawyer.

The Australian lawyer allegedly tried to convey documents "posing a danger to Libyan society" while visiting Gaddafi in detention, the independent Libyan news agency Solidarity Press reported, quoting lawyer Ahmed al-Jehani.

Al-Jehani, who is in charge of Gaddafi's case, did not disclose the content of the letters.

The woman, named Melinda Taylor, is a member of the ICC team permitted by Libyan authorities to visit Gaddafi in the town of Zintan, where he is being held, added the agency.

There was no official comment on the report.

The Hague-based court and Libya's new leaders are locked in a row over where the 39-year-old Gaddafi might be put on trial.

The ICC has repeatedly requested Gaddafi's extradition. However, Libya insists he face trial at home for crimes allegedly committed during the uprising against his father.

Gaddafi, once seen as his father's successor in power, was captured by rebel fighters in November in southern Libya.

He was moved to Zintan, some 160 kilometres south-west of the capital Tripoli.