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Tripoli, Jan 17 (IANS) The trial of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, began Thursday but was postponed till May 2 due to the absence of his lawyer, Xinhua reported. The trial took place in Zentan, 150 km from the capital Tripoli, but Saif's lawyer Melinda Taylor was absent, an official said. Libya's justice ministry earlier announced that Saif al-Islam, along with former prime minister al-Baghdadi Ali al-Mahmoudi and former intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senoussi, would be tried as soon as questioning was completed. There has been a tussle between Libya and the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague over where Saif should face justice. Libyan authorities have repeatedly rejected requests to hand him over for trial in The Hague. In 2011, the ICC issued warrants against Muammar Gaddafi, Saif and Senoussi over charges of crimes against humanity stemming from the crackdown on protesters. Muammar Gaddafi was later killed by rebels near his hometown of Sirte in October 2011.
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