Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam 'arrested in Libya

Saif al-Islam the son of Colonel Gaddafi has been held, authorities from Libya's interim government have confirmed.

According to the officials, Saif al-Islam was captured near the town of Obari in the south of the country.

The previous leader's son is the last most important member of the Gaddafi family to be arrested or killed.

Saif al-Islam is wanted by the International Criminal Court for suspected crimes against humankind during the revolt against his father.

The National Transitional Council's (NTC) justice minister Mohammed al-Allagui said Saif al-Islam had been arrested along with a number of bodyguards, Reuters news agency reported.

Authorities said Saif al-Islam was being taken to the city of Zintan in the north of the country.

Gaddafi's son was in fine health condition, the justice minister is reported to have said.

A commander of the Zintan brigades, associated to the NTC, told a news conference that Saif al-Islam was arrested as aides were attempting to smuggle him out to neighboring Niger, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Saif al-Islam had been on the escapee since NTC security forces took the control of capital, Tripoli, in August.

The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says this is a very crucial time for Libyans.

They came to see Saif al-Islam as the successor apparent, as a younger version of his father due to his oratory during the revolt, she says.

Celebrations blown up on the streets of Tripoli in a while after the news come out.

People have been hooting car horns, waving flags and firing guns into the air.