Libyan government reclaims Qaddafi 10-million-pound mansion in London

The Libyan government reclaimed possession on Friday of a 10-million-pound mansion in London that had been bought by Saadi Qaddafi using stolen Libyan state funds, a court ruled.

Anti-corruption campaigners said it was the first case of its kind to go through the British courts since the “Arab Spring” uprisings began more than a year ago.

The case was brought on behalf of the National Transitional Council (NTC), Libya’s leaders following the overthrow and murder of Saadi’s father Muammar Qaddafi last year.

The house, in an upmarket area of London, was bought in May 2009 by a shell company based in the British Virgin Islands.

It had been occupied by squatters after the overthrow of the long-time Libyan leader and has now been taken over by staff from the Libyan embassy in London, the court heard.

Libya has urged Niger to extradite Saadi Qaddafi, who fled south over the border in September as Libyan rebels gained the upper hand over his father's forces.

Before Libya’s civil war, Saadi was best-known for his soccer obsession and playboy lifestyle.