A Libyan court on Tuesday sentenced Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the former leader Muammar Gaddafi, to death, according to local judicial resources.

 

The Tripoli-based court also ruled on eight other senior figures of the former regime to death on the same day.

 

Some local media called the ruling controversial, saying the court was under pressure of the Islamist forces, who expelled the elected Libyan government and were currently occupying the capital city of Tripoli.

 

Libya's Ministry of Justice earlier denounced the trials set by the Tripoli court on Seif, as well as 37 other Gaddafi's close officials.

 

Justice Minister Al-Mabruk Ghraira Omran called on international community not to accept verdicts, saying that the judges involved were "working at gunpoint and in fear of murder or kidnap."

(Xinhua)