Muammar Gaddafi’s son and one-time heir is now believed to be heading toward the West African nation of Niger, where his brother and dozens of Gaddafi regime members are already hiding.

Muammar Gaddafi is determined to fight his way back to power, his chief spokesman claimed today, as a large convoy of his soldiers apparently deserted into neighbouring Niger.

A large convoy of Libyan soldiers loyal to ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi crossed the desert border into Niger and rolled into the frontier town of Agadez, a resident who is the owner of a local newspaper said.