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Ajami al-Ateri, commander of the Libyan brigade in charge of detaining Saif al-Islam, gives a press conference in Zintan on June 9. Libya has arrested a female Australian lawyer from the International Criminal Court for trying to pass 'dangerous' documents to Saif al-Islam, detained son of slain leader Moammar Gadhafi. (Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/GettyImages)
The four legal team members with the International Criminal Court (ICC) being held by Libyan rebels were moved to a new jail in the mountainous town of Zintan, a militia head told the BBC on Monday.
Ajami al-Ateri, the head of the Zintan brigade—a militia that fought against Moammar Gadhafi’s regime during last year’s civil war, told the broadcaster that the four lawyers will be held for 45 days pending an investigation.
More ICC personnel have arrived in Libya to hold talks with the militants and the government, to release the detained staff members. The legal team was in Libya to investigate the upcoming procedures against Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son of the former Libyan dictator, who is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity. They reportedly met with Saif.
Libyan authorities said they detained the legal team for security breaches.
One of the ICC lawyers detained in Libya is Australian national Melinda Taylor. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard told reporters on Monday that her office is “calling on the Libyan government to expedite the end of Ms. Taylor’s detention,” according to Radio Australia.
“On the advice that we have, she is safe and well, we have been provided with that assurance,” Gillard added.
On Sunday, Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr insisted in a statement that Libyan authorities release Taylor immediately.
“I emphasized our strong interest in seeing the matter resolved quickly and urged [Libyan Deputy Foreign Minister Muhamed Aziz] to facilitate full consular access to Ms. Taylor,” Carr said in a new statement on Monday.
