We'll detain Gaddafi's fugitive son, says Niger

The government of Niger has confirmed that it has intercepted Muammar Gaddafi's son, Saadi, and said that it intends to detain him in the capital.

The US State Department said that it had spoken with representatives of the Niger government, who were "either in the process or have already brought him to the capital of Naimey and intend to detain him," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

The country's justice minister announced on Sunday that Saadi, a special forces commander and former footballer, had arrived in the country via the same route used by at least two previous convoys of Gaddafi loyalists in the past week.

Ms Nuland said Niger was in contact with Libya's interim Transitional National Council (TNC) and was assessing what to do next both with him and other Libyans linked to the Gaddafi government who have crossed into the country in recent days.

Meanwhile, in an announcement ended weeks of uncertainty, China has recognised the rebel TNC as Libya's ruling authority. The Council had vowed to respect Beijing's interests after tensions between the two.

Along with Russia, China had been one of the few major countries to withhold recognition.