Saif ul-Islam Gaddafi: Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son decides to run for president
Saif ul-Islam Gaddafi, the son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has registered as a candidate to run in next month's presidential election.
Saif ul-Islam Gaddafi was said to be Muammar Gaddafi's successor, but ten years ago, his reputation was severely damaged by atrocities against protesters in the country.
The situation in Libya has been tense since 2011 due to the unrest in the country.
Human rights groups fear that the December 24 election will not be free and fair.
The UN Secretary-General and world powers have also warned that anyone who tries to interfere in the election or influence its outcome will face sanctions.
Saif ul-Islam Gaddafi's photos and videos are seen circulating on social media in front of an election poster signing election documents.
Saif ul-Islam, dressed in traditional Lebanese attire and with a beard on his face, looks at the camera and reads a verse from the Qur'an and then says, "God's will is always done."
But in the past, Saif ul-Islam Gaddafi's attitude and character was not like that. When his father's government was overthrown in 2011, he was taken into custody by a militant group and later sentenced to death, but that decision was reversed.
Saif ul-Islam Gaddafi is still wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, but he has slowly begun to appear in public.''He also gave an interview to the New York Times''.
Saif ul-Islam Gaddafi's to mixed views on return
People in Libya have differing views since Saif ul-Islam Gaddafi's return to public office.
But his decision to run in the by-elections came as no surprise, as he had long been a candidate for the presidency.
However, the situation in Libya over the past ten years is still fresh in people's minds and it is difficult for Saif- ul-Islam Gaddafi to win the election. Their presence can complicate the process.
Libya has an interim government after years of civil war, but the country is in turmoil.
There are fears that the presidential election could be affected by differences between the government and the opposition.