Abdel Magid Al-fergany / AP, file

Abdullah al-Senoussi, right, whispers to Moammar Gadhafi in 2009.

Updated at 9:18 a.m. ET: NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania -- Mauritanian security officials arrested former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senoussi on Saturday, the country's official information agency and Libyan officials said. He is sought by the International Criminal Court.

The official communique said al-Senoussi was arrested at the airport in the capital of the West African nation. It said he was coming from Morocco and was carrying a fake Malian passport.

Libyan government spokesman Nasser al-Manee confirmed the news.

"He was arrested this morning in Nouakchott airport and there was a young man with him. We think it is his son," he said.

The ICC indicted al-Senoussi and Gadhafi's son for crimes against humanity, including multiple murders, allegedly committed during the former regime's crackdown on dissent.

Al-Manee said Libya was seeking al-Senussi's extradition.

"Today the prosecutor general has sent an extradition request to the Mauritanian government through Interpol, who delivered this request to the Mauritanian government," he told a news conference.

"The Libyan foreign ministry is in touch with Mauritania about the procedure. The Libyan government is ready to receive Abdullah al-Senussi ... and give him a fair trial in Libya."

This is a breaking news story. Please check again for more details.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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