Zintan's hold on Saif al-Islam reflects Libya divisions

[tabatha]

"The story of Saif is a tragedy. His father is dead, his brothers are dead and his mother and sister have fled," he said in a voice made hoarse by chain-smoking.

When Saif al-Islam left Mehdi's plane on Saturday to crowds of angry Zintan residents, the pilot was seen holding his hand.

"Zintan has a long history of fighting. Our grandfathers and generations before have told us to treat prisoners well," he said.

The group of Zintan fighters who caught Gaddafi's heir and their colleagues who flew from the capital to airlift him say they are bound by a 200-year-old tribal agreement between the Zintan tribe and his, the Gaddafa, which guarantees the protection of prisoners of war.

"It is an ancient agreement, but it still holds," said Abu Ali.

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