Italy seizes 'Malta-linked' property owned by Gaddafi family

Italy has seized a hotel complex and land belonging to the family of slain Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in the latest such confiscation, the ANSA news agency reported.

Rai Uno said the complex was linked to a Maltese company, which it did not identify.

The property, seized by court order and worth some 20 million euros was located on the picturesque small island of Pantelleria which lies in the Mediterranean between Sicily and Tunisia, it said.

In March Italy had seized more than €1.1 billion worth of assets controlled by the late dictator's family including stakes in top companies, land and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Among those were 150 hectares (371 acres) of forest on Pantelleria where Gaddafi had been rumoured to be planning to build a holiday village.

The seizure follows a request by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which is seeking the extradition from Libya of Gaddafi 's son Seif al-Islam on charges of crimes against humanity.