The Libyan government has officially challenged the right of the International Criminal Court to try Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam for war crimes.
Libya has formally asked the ICC to abandon its legal action so he can be tried in Tripoli, where he could face the death penalty.
Saif al-Islam was indicted in Libya in June for crimes against humanity stemming from the crackdown on last year's revolt.
Libya's government and the war crimes court have argued for months over where he should be tried.
Tripoli considers it a matter of national pride and a measure of the country's transformation for Saif al-Islam’s trial to be held in Libya.
However, human rights groups question whether its justice system can meet the standards of international law and say he should be handed over to the ICC instead.
According to a document released by The Hague-based court yesterday, the Libyan government once again challenged the admissibility before the ICC of the cases concerning both Saif al-Islam and Abdullah al-Senussi, Gaddafi's intelligence chief.
"The Libyan government regards the trial of Mr Gaddafi and Mr Al-Senussi as a matter of the highest national importance, not only in bringing justice for the Libyan people but also in demonstrating that the Libyan justice system is capable of proper investigation and prosecution, and that it can conduct fair trials," the government said in the document.
It said its own investigations "are now at an advanced stage" and "are expected to be completed in the near future".
"It is anticipated that the investigative phase of proceedings with respect to Mr Gaddafi will be completed within the next few weeks," the government added, whereas for Mr Senussi the proceedings would take longer because he is not in the country.
Mr Senussi was arrested in Mauritania in March and is wanted by Libya, France and the ICC.
Libya said he is under investigation for crimes which it says took place during 2011, such as the shooting of captured rebels who were no longer able to fight.
He is also investigated for "other serious crimes" which took place before the revolution, including the massacre of 1,270 prisoners at Abu Selim prison on 27 June 1996 after they complained about poor treatment, according to the court document.
