Libya appeals order to hand over Qaddafi's son

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Libyan authorities are appealing an International Criminal Court order for them to immediately hand over a son of late dictator Muammar Qaddafi so he can be tried on crimes against humanity charges.

The written appeal filed Tuesday says trying Seif al-Islam Qaddafi in Libya rather than The Hague is, "a matter of the highest national importance."

The world's first permanent war crimes tribunal is locked in a legal tug-of-war with Libya's National Transitional Council over who should try Seif.

He was indicted by ICC prosecutors on charges of murdering and persecuting civilians in the early days of the uprising that toppled his father's regime last year.

Libya said Monday that Seif al-Islam will be tried there soon, with a verdict by mid-June.