A Libyan court passed a death sentence in absentia on Muammar Gaddafi's most prominent son, Saif al-Islam, on Tuesday for suppressing peaceful protests during the country's 2011 revolution that ended his father's rule.

More than 30 close associates of Col Gaddafi were also tried for suppressing peaceful protests during the uprising.

Chief investigators at the Tripoli state prosecutor's office, Sadiq al-Sur in a statement said Eight ex-officials received life sentences and seven jail terms of 12 years each, Four of the 37 defendants were acquitted, others got shorter jail terms.

The court also handed down in a televised session a death sentence by firing squad to Gaddafi's former spy chief, Abdullah al-Senussi, and his former prime minister, Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, Reuters reports.

The verdict on Saif was passed in absentia; he has been held since 2011 by a former rebel group in Zintan region that opposes the Tripoli government, which is not recognised by world powers.

Saif appeared by video link only at the start of the trial. The Zintanis have refused to hand him over, saying they do not trust authorities in Tripoli to make sure he does not escape, but agreed to let him be tried there.

culled:Reuters