Gaddafi's son back in presidential race after court accepts appeal

A Libyan court on Thursday allowed Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi to run for president, after accepting his appeal following a ruling that had him excluded from the 24 December presidential polls, Anadolu News Agency reports.

“The Sabha Court of Appeal accepted the appeal submitted by Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and returned him to the presidential elections race,” private Libya Al-Ahrar TV wrote on Twitter.

The ruling came after a militia affiliated with warlord, Khalifa Haftar, withdrew, Tuesday, from the Sabha Court after having it under seize for two days.

They forced the court to close, preventing judges from looking into Gaddafi’s appeal against his exclusion from the elections.

The UN mission in Libya threatened, Monday, to impose Security Council sanctions against “those obstructing the justice and electoral system.”

READ: Libya’s elections lack base for success, head of High Council says

Observers believe Gaddafi’s return to the political scene poses a threat to Haftar’s candidacy, who relies on support from Gaddafi loyalists.

The Libyan Electoral Commission announced a primary list last week of 73 candidates for the election and another with 25 people excluded from running, including Gaddafi.

Libya’s presidential and parliamentary elections are set to take place under an UN-sponsored agreement reached by Libyan political rivals during meetings in Tunisia last November.

Libyans hope that the elections will contribute to ending an armed conflict that has plagued the oil-rich country for years.

READ: Libya concedes nomination for African Security Council membership