Libya's ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) has renewed calls for neighboring Niger to hand over Saadi Gadhafi, the son of slain dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

The NTC said in a statement that Niger had to extradite Saadi, 38, and other fugitives "at the earliest possible time to preserve its relations and interests with the Libyan people."

Nigersays it won't send Saadi to Libya until the country sets up an "independent and impartial justice system." Saadi, Gadhafi's third son, took refuge in Niger in September.

The calls came after Saadi told broadcaster Al Arabiya that an "uprising is growing every day" in Libya.

"I have contacts almost on a daily basis with many Libyan groups. Many of them are still working with us," Saadi, a businessman and former footballer, added.

"The Libyan people are being ruled by gangs. The people must eliminate militias," he said, referring to recent clashes among rival insurgents who were once united in a revolt against his father's regime.

"I will return to Libya at any time," he added.

Libya's official news agency LANA reported that Libyan Foreign Minister Ashur bin Khayyal denounced Saadi's remarks in a telephone talk with his Niger counterpart Mohamed Bazum.

"This declaration [by Saadi] is harmful to the relations between the two countries," Khayyal said.

"The Niger government must take tough measures against Saadi, including handing him over to Libyan authorities to judge him for the crimes committed against the Libyan people," LANA quoted Khayyal as telling Bazum.

dfm/ccp (AFP, dpa)