A former minister in the government of Muammar Gaddafi was sentenced to death yesterday for inciting violence against protesters during the uprising that led to the Libyan dictator’s overthrow in 2011, his lawyer said yesterday.

In the first such ruling against a Gaddafi-era official, a court in Misurata found Ahmed Ibrahim guilty of undermining national security and plotting the killing of civilians, said the lawyer, Salim Dans.

He said Libya’s supreme court would have to confirm the ruling for the death penalty to be implemented.

Ibrahim held several senior positions including education and information minister. He was captured by Misurata rebel fighters in Gaddafi’s hometown Sirte.

Gaddafi was captured and killed in October 2011.

Libya’s new rulers, who aim to draw up a democratic Constitution this year, are keen to try Gaddafi’s family members and loyalists at home to show citizens that those who helped him stay in power for 42 years are being punished.

Human rights activists worry legal proceedings will not meet international standards.

Libya’s weak central government is trying to reform the judiciary while struggling to stabilise the country and tame the militias that fought Gaddafi’s forces.

The most prominent person facing trial is Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam. Libya has appealed a ruling by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hand him over to the tribunal, which wants to try him for alleged crimes committed during the 2011 uprising.

Human rights activists worried about legal proceedings

Meanwhile, the Libyan oil minister said yesterday that the country’s oil exports have slumped by 70 per cent as armed security guards shut down several export ports in one of the worst disruptions the Opec member has seen in the last year.

Libya has been struggling to maintain output at around 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) following a wave of protests and strikes that have hit its energy industry.

The men, supposed to be securing four major oil ports, shut them down in protest over pay, Oil Minister Abdelbari al-Arusi said.

He added that some were calling for change in management at some companies.

He said that the ports of Es Sider, Ras Lanuf, Marsa al Brega and Marsa al Hariga have been shut down. “Yesterday we were exporting 1.4 million bpd,” he said. He referred to production as falling, after earlier stating exports. It was not immediately possible to clarify with him or other officials.

“Libya’s production fell from 1.4 million bpd to 330,000 bpd,” Arusi said.