Libya conflict: Niger border \'cannot be closed\'

Niger's foreign minister says his country is unable to close its border with Libya to prevent fugitive Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi fleeing south. Foreign Minister Mohamed Bazoum told the BBC that Col Gaddafi had not crossed the border or asked to cross.He said Gaddafi loyalists who have arrived in Niger's capital, Niamey, would be free to stay or move on.Libya's transitional authorities have said they are seeking Niger's help to stop Col Gaddafi from fleeing.Political Affairs head Fathi Baja said the National Transitional Council (NTC) had sent a delegation to Niger to discuss "securing our borders to stop any kind of infiltration of Gaddafi troops to Niger, to stop any attempt by Gaddafi or his family to escape to Niger". Asked if Niger might close its border, Mr Bazoum said: "We have no means to close the border... It is too big and we have very, very small means for that." He said he hoped that Col Gaddafi would not try to cross the border, but that Niger had not yet taken any decision on whether it would accept him - or whether it would hand him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) - if he did attempt to enter Niger. The ICC is seeking the arrest of Col Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam, and his former intelligence chief Abdullah Sanoussi.   Mr Bazoum said at least three convoys had crossed from Libya into Niger, and that none of Col Gaddafi's sons was travelling in them. Officials in Niger have said Col Gaddafi's security chief, Mansour Daw, is among those who entered the country in the convoys on Sunday. Col Gaddafi's wife, two of his sons and his daughter fled to Algeria last week. His own whereabouts remain the subject of speculation.The NTC has been trying to negotiate a peaceful resolution to stand-offs in a handful of Libyan towns or cities still controlled by Gaddafi loyalists.These include Bani Walid, Jufra, Sabha and Col Gaddafi's birthplace of Sirte. The NTC has positioned forces outside Bani Walid, and says talks will continue there until a deadline on Saturday.