Thaindian News

London, Sep 8 (IANS) Ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has dismissed as “lies” and “psychological warfare” the speculations that he has fled to the southern neighbouring country of Niger, BBC reported.

The comments were made in a telephone call to Syrian TV.

Gaddafi promised his forces would defeat the NATO and the rebel National Transitional Council.

Niger has said it was considering how to deal with Gaddafi if he decided to enter the country to seek refuge.

The country’s foreign minister told the BBC that Niger would “decide later” whether to accept Gaddafi or hand him over to the International Criminal Court.

The ICC is seeking the arrest of Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam, and former intelligence chief Abdullah Sanussi.

Libyan rebels have also asked Niger not to grant refuge to the ousted leader.

Groups of Gaddafi loyalists have fled to Niger in recent days.

Niger’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum admitted that Gaddafi regime officials had recently crossed into Niger.

But he dismissed reports that said Gaddafi or any of his sons were currently in his country.

“There is no news about Gaddafi in Niger, we have no news about him, it is not true that he has tried to come into Niger or he came into Niger,” he was quoted as saying.

Though Niger has recognised Libya’s rebel-led National Transitional Council, government officials say that country cannot just abandon Gaddafi completely as it has had a long relationship with him.

Gaddafi’s wife and their three children earlier crossed into its western neighbouring country of Algeria, which granted them refuge on humnitarian grounds.