The US government today urged Niger to detain senior officials from the Gadafy government who it believes crossed into the country in a convoy from Libya, the US State Department said.
Niger officials informed the US ambassador that the convoy carried "a dozen or more" senior members of Muammar Gadafy's government but gave no indication that the deposed leader himself was among them, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said.
"We have strongly urged the Nigeran officials to detain those members of the regime who may be subject to prosecution, to ensure that they confiscate any weapons that are found and to ensure that any state property of the government of Libya, money, jewels, etc, also be impounded so that it can be returned to the Libyan people," Ms Nuland said.
She said the United States had also urged Niger to work with Libya's ruling interim council to ensure that its interests are served in bringing the convoy's passengers to justice.
Col Gadafy is still in Libya, his spokesman said today. "He is in Libya. He is safe, he very healthy, in high morale. He thinks very much that he is doing exactly what he should be doing," Moussa Ibrahim told Reuters. "He knows that he is supported by millions, not just in Libya but actually around the Arab world."
The spokesman said he knew nothing about the Niger convoy.
Niger officials said Mansour Dhao, Col Gadafy's personal security chief, crossed into Niger on Sunday and a US national security official said Washington believed the convoy also carried several other prominent Libyan passengers.
Military sources told Reuters that a convoy of between 200 and 250 vehicles had been escorted to the northern city of Agadez by Niger army personnel. US officials said Col Gadafy's government had close ties to Niger-based Tuareg rebels, some of whom had gone to Libya to help defend Col Gadafy.
A French military source told Reuters it was possible Col Gadafy and his son and would-be heir, Saif al-Islam, could join the convoy later and head for neighbouring Burkina Faso.
Libya's interim ruling National Transitional Council said earlier the convoy of vehicles was carrying gold and cash.
A US State Department spokeswoman later said the United States did not believe Col Gadafy was in the convoy.
US defence secretary Leon Panetta said the deposed leader was on the run. "I wish I knew," he said when asked about Col Gadafy's whereabouts. "I don't have any information as to exactly where he's located . . . the best information we have is that he's on the run."
Elsewhere, Libyan forces were seeking to enter the pro-Gadafy desert town of Bani Walid today after reportedly reaching a deal with delegates from the town to avoid fighting. However, later reports said negotiations between the two sides had broken down.
After one NTC negotiator suggested the town could be handed over peacefully, another said forces should prepare to attack.
Bani Walid, which lies 150km south of Tripoli, had refused to surrender to forces loyal to the National Transitional Council, giving rise to expectations there would be another round of fighting to rout forces loyal to Libya's long-time leader.
On-and-off talks involving Bani Walid's tribal elders had previously been unable to reach a breakthrough. The town is a stronghold for the powerful Warfalla tribe of about one million people, which had remained loyal to the ousted regime.
Reuters