London, Oct 29 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Saif al-Islam, the fugitive son of slain former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has told the International Criminal Court (ICC) he is innocent of crimes against humanity.

The ICC has said it made informal contact with Gaddafi's son, who has not been seen in public since August. In June, the court indicted the 39-year-old, once seen as a successor to his father, for murder and persecution.

ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said Saif al-Islam claimed he was innocent and was concerned about what could happen to him if he was cleared of his charges, BBC reported.

The Hague-based court is also seeking the arrest of former intelligence chief Abdullah Sanussi.

While the two men's whereabouts remain unknown, Libyan officials say they might be holed up in Libya's southern borderlands.

A source in the National Transitional Council said Saif al-Islam wanted a neutral aircraft to take him into ICC custody.

However, Moreno-Ocampo said there were fears Saif might escape the court's reach.

"We have learnt through informal channels that there is a group of mercenaries who are offering to move Saif to an African country not party to the Rome Statute of the ICC," Al Jazeera television quoted Moreno-Ocampo as saying.

Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for 42 years, died shortly after being captured alive by National Transitional Council fighters near his hometown Sirte Oct 20.
One of his sons Mutassim was also killed. The two were buried in a secret desert location.

In August, Gaddafi's wife Safia, his daughter Aisha and his sons Hannibal and Mohammed, accompanied by their children, crossed the border into Algeria for asylum.

Gaddafi's another son, Saadi, fled to Niger along with several generals of the former regime.

Another son, Khamis, died in fighting in Tripoli Aug 29.