Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam released after 5 years detention

New York: Son of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, has been released after five years of captivity.

Saif was released from the north-western Libyan city of Zintan under a "General Amnesty Law" passed by Libya's House of Representatives, the CNN quoted Abu Bakr al-Sideeq militia, that captured him during the civil war, as saying in a statement on Saturday. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity. 

Libya has been divided since Muammar Gaddafi's fall nearly six years ago, with three governments, multiple parliaments and competing tribes and militia vying for power.

The House of Representatives based in the country's east is not internationally recognized. However, in its statement, the Abu Bakr al-Sideeq Brigade said Libya's House of Representatives was the country's legitimate authority and it was releasing Gaddafi as a result of that parliament's amnesty.

Saif, who is 44 and has a PhD from the London School of Economics, was once considered the heir apparent to his father, who ruled Libya for over 30 years.

Before the 2011 Libyan civil war, he was believed to be a moderate in comparison to his father. But in 2011 the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest for alleged crimes against humanity during attempts to quash the revolution that led to his father's ouster.

However, Libyan authorities refused to hand him over, saying the court did not have authority to try the case. 

A trial was held in Libya's capital, with Saif facing charges relating to attempts to suppress the revolution uprising, including the killing of protesters.