CNN News - U.S.: Gadhafi not believed to be in Niger convoy, Sep 06, 2011

By the CNN Wire Staff

September 6, 2011 -- Updated 1843 GMT (0243 HKT)

Libyan convoys pass through Niger

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Rebel spokesman: Talks broke down when pro-Gadhafi fighters fired on negotiators
• Moammar Gadhafi is not believed to be in convoy, the U.S. State Department says
• U.S. calls on Niger to detain Libyan regime members, confiscate arms and property
• Burkina Faso says it has not offered Gadhafi asylum

Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Two Libyan convoys have passed through Niger this week, officials in that country said Tuesday, fueling renewed speculation about the whereabouts of ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and members of his family.

The U.S. State Department said it viewed the two sets of vehicles as parts of a single convoy -- and that Gadhafi is not believed to be on it.

"Apparently a convoy has entered and it does include some senior members of the Gadhafi regime, but we do not believe that Gadhafi himself was among them," department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

One convoy was on its way Tuesday to the capital, Niamey, a military captain in Niger said.

Another convoy reached Niamey a day earlier, an official with Niger's Interior Ministry said. That convoy included six high-ranking Libyan officials close to Gadhafi, including Gen. Mansour Daw, the source said. Daw is said to be the head of the Revolutionary Guard and is responsible for the security of Gadhafi and his family.

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The sources did not want to be identified because neither is authorized to speak to the media.

Bisa Williams, U.S. ambassador to Niger, spoke with that country's government about the convoy, Nuland said.

"We have strongly urged the Nigerien officials to detain those members of the regime who may be subject to prosecution, to ensure that they confiscate any weapons they have found and to ensure that any state property of the government of Libya -- money, jewels, etc. -- also be impounded so that it can be returned to the Libyan people."

Williams told the Niger government that the United States expects it to comply if the new Libyan government requests anyone seeking refuge in Niger to be returned to Libya, State Department officials said.

Niamey is in Niger's southwest corner, near Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso's government said Tuesday that it has not offered Gadhafi asylum, contrary to news reports.