A total of 32 members of the "inner circle" of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, including his son Saadi, have fled to Niger, Niger's Prime Minister Brigi Rafini has announced.

"A total of 32 people are now here, including one of (Gaddafi;s) sons, Saadi, as well as three generals," Rafini told reporters in Niger's capital Niamey Monday, as cited by Al Jazeera.

"[Gaddafi's son Saadi] was in a convoy of nine people. They were intercepted heading in the direction of Agadez," Marou Adamou, Niger's Justice Minister explained.

Adamou said the convoy with Saadi was intercepted by Nigerien soldiers who had been patrolling the Sahara.

"We were not informed of their arrival," said Adamou. He said he expected them to be transferred to the capital Niamey on Monday or Tuesday.

Asked what Saadi's status in the country was, Amadou said only that Niger would fulfill its humanitarian obligations.

The International Criminal Court in the Hague has issued a warrant for Muammar Gaddafi and his son Saif al-Islam, but not for Saadi who is a former professional football player with matches in the Italian Serie A.

Saadi's convoy is the third containing important members of Gaddafi's inner circle to arrive in Niger in the past seven days.

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