Niger has extradited Muammar Gaddafi's son Saadi to the Libyan capital Tripoli, the Libyan government has said.

The third son of the former Libyan leader is being held in Hadaba Prison in the capital.

“The Libyan Government received today (6/3/2014) Al Saadi Gaddafi. He arrived in Libya and is located at the Libyan judiciary police station", the Libyan government said on its official Facebook page on Thursday.

"The Libyan Government thanks the President of the Republic of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou, we also thank the Niger Government and the people of Niger for their cooperation with the Libyan Government in pledging its commitment to the treatment of the accused on the principles of justice and international norms in dealing with prisoners. God save Libya.”

Saadi was granted entry to Niger on humanitarian grounds after the Gaddafi government was toppled.

Niger had previously refused to hand over Saadi, who fled south to the West African state in September 2011 as Libyan forces gain the upper hand over his father's forces, because he feared he would face execution in Libya.

In 2011, Interpol issued a "red notice" asking its member states to arrest Saadi with a view to extradition if they found him on their territory.

In December 2011, Mexican authorities foiled a plot to smuggle Saadi from Niger into Mexico.

Before the revolution, Saadi was best known for captaining Libya's national football team, and making appearances for Italian Serie A sides Perugia and Udinese.