A convoy carrying ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s son al-Saadi has crossed into neighbouring Niger, a spokesman for Niger’s government said.

A CONVOY carrying ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s son al-Saadi, has crossed into neighbouring Niger — a spokesman for Niger’s government said yesterday.

A senior member of Muammar Gaddafi’s inner circle slipped into Niger along with three carloads of collaborators, an official said, but the toppled Libyan leader was not among them nor were any members of his immediate family.

LIBYAN army vehicles have crossed the desert frontier into Niger in what may be a dramatic, secretly negotiated bid by Muammar Gaddafi to seek refuge in a friendly African state.

Troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi, including his security chief, have fled into neighbouring Niger in multiple convoys but the dictator’s location is still unknown.

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.