Ex-Libyan PM seeks refugee status

Former Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi has applied for political refugee status, his lawyer says, Press TV reported.

Tawfik Wanas said on Friday that if the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) grants political refugee status to the 70-year-old former Libyan premier, his extradition from Tunisia to Libya would not be possible, The Tripoli Post reported.

Mahmoudi was arrested near the Tunisian town of Tamaghza on the border with Algeria in September. A Tunisian court sentenced him to six months in jail on charges of illegal entry into Tunisia.

However, Mahmoudi was freed in October despite a request by the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) for his extradition to stand trial.

On Thursday, NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdel-Jalil said, "First of all, we will ensure a secure place for him, then we will guarantee a fair trial, despite the acts he has perpetrated against the Libyan people."

Acting Libyan Justice Minister Mohammad al-Alagi said in September that Mahmoudi was "directly" in charge of operations in which people were killed during the Libyan revolution.

Meanwhile, Interim Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib said on Friday that the new government will be transparent and will not include anyone from the previous regime.