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Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi registering for the presidential election
Photo: KHALED AL-ZAIDY / via REUTERS
Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi registered on Sunday as a candidate for the elections on December 24th, said an employee of the election commission - in Libya, a son of long-time ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi wants to take part in the presidential election.
Photos and videos spread on social networks show Gaddafi in a traditional brown robe and turban, with a gray beard and glasses, signing documents at the registration center in the southern city of Sebha.
Gaddafi, 49, had not previously appeared in public for a decade.
He is one of the most prominent personalities running for president.
The list also includes the military commander in the east of the country, Khalifa Haftar, Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah and Parliament President Aguila Saleh.
Chaos has reigned in Libya since the overthrow of long-time ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011.
The presidential election in Libya is scheduled for December 24th.
It is seen as an important step towards installing a new political leadership that has sufficient legitimacy after years of civil war.
A few days ago, the electoral commission began collecting applications from possible candidates.
Due to ongoing disputes between the political camps, it is unclear whether the election will take place at all.
Among other things, there is a dispute about the time of the parliamentary election, which should actually take place on the same day.
“You have to come back slowly, slowly.
Like a striptease "
In 2011 the Libyan people rebelled against the ruler Muammar al-Gaddafi.
NATO supported the uprising.
In October 2011, Gaddafi was captured and shot dead by opposition fighters near his hometown of Sirte.
Saif al-Islam was picked up by fighters from the mountainous region of Zintan days later when he was trying to flee Libya to Niger.
The Zintan fighters held the young Gaddafi prisoner for years, but did not allow him to be transferred to Tripoli.
At the beginning of the year, Gaddafi finally reappeared - and gave an interview to the New York Times.
At that point he indicated his ambitions.
“You have to come back slowly, slowly.
Like a striptease.
You have to play with her mind a little, ”he told the newspaper.
Since then, he has not yet addressed the Libyan public directly.
Sentenced for war crimes
Saif al-Islam was sentenced to death in absentia by a court in Tripoli for war crimes in 2015.
He is also wanted by the International Criminal Court.
If he made a public appearance in the capital, Tripoli, he would likely be arrested.
He was "confident that these legal problems can be negotiated away" if a majority of Libyans wanted him to lead, he told the New York Times.
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Gaddafi's son studied at the London School of Economics.
He is fluent in English.
Many Western governments once saw him as a possible heir to the throne in Libya.
In an interview with SPIEGEL, his father once said of him: "He studied, he is well-read, knows his way around the world and has reached the age where he no longer needs any help from me."
When the Libyan people rebelled against the rule of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Saif al-Islam sided with his family - and against the West, which supported the rebellion.
At that time he said: "We are fighting here in Libya, we are dying here in Libya."
slü / Reuters
