Hush-hush visit for Gaddafi's son

BY WILL HINE IN QUEENSTOWN

The son of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is thought to have arrived in Queenstown yesterday on a chartered Air New Zealand Dash-8 aircraft.

A group, believed to contain Saif al Islam al Gaddafi, earlier boarded the aircraft at Christchurch Airport after disembarking a Libyan Airbus.

The Dash-8 touched down in Queenstown at 12.20pm, to be greeted by aviation security services and an airport police officer.

Passengers were met on the tarmac by a Mercedes four-wheel-drive and Lexus sedan, which left the airport via a side gate.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman confirmed a member of the Gaddafi family was visiting New Zealand but would not say who.

He said that a visa had been approved because the applicant met all the requirements and that Diplomatic Protection Service personnel were not provided because it was a private visit.

Sergeant Steve Watt, of Queenstown, was not aware of any security assistance being offered by the police.

London-based Saif Gaddafi, 37, was instrumental in securing the release of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi from a Scottish prison in August, personally accompanying him on the flight home to Libya.

Megrahi was convicted of the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103, in which 270 people died, but was released this year because he had terminal cancer.

Described as a "powerful mover and shaker in Libya and abroad" by The Guardian newspaper, Mr Gaddafi is an Anglophile, architect and artist. He runs the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation, which promotes human rights, development and aid.

Of Colonel Gaddafi's seven sons, Saif is the one most likely to succeed him, The Guardian reported in September.

He is said to keep two pet tigers.

Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Clive Geddes had no concerns about the Gaddafi visit.

"If he qualifies for visa entry into New Zealand then he's just like anyone else and more than welcome."

Yesterday's private flight is one of several that have arrived in Queenstown this month. Two Gulfstream jets arrived last week, the second of which left on Sunday. Another Gulfstream and a Bombardier jet arrived yesterday.

The Bombardier is the corporate jet of retail giant Westfield.

It is understood company founder Frank Lowy, the second richest man in Australia with a A$4.2 billion (NZ$5.2 billion) fortune, is on holiday with his family in Queenstown.

Queenstown Airport chief executive Steve Sanderson was unable to confirm how many private jets had landed this month but said the number was about normal for this time of year.

-With FAIRFAX

- © Fairfax NZ News