Libya Sighs Relief with Arrest of Gadhafi Favorite Son

Honking cars, tears of joy and praise to Allah: in the cradle of the Libyan uprising the capture of Seif al-Islam, the old regime's favorite son, was celebrated with joyous relief.

As the news spread, cars gravitated to Benghazi's Tahrir Square from all over, passengers hanging through rolled-down windows waving Libya's new flag.

"The joy is indescribable," said Rejeb al-Seweri, who came to the central square carrying his young daughter on his shoulders amid celebratory gunfire and cries of "God is greatest".

"We are relieved. One of the last pillars of the Gadhafi era has fallen. This is a very good sign for a free Libya," said Omar Abderrahim, a 19-year-old student, wearing a scarf in Libya's new colors.

"He threatened us with his index finger, well they cut off his fingers," exclaimed Fariha Fakroon, 39, referring to a photo broadcast on state television showing the former regime's heir-apparent with three fingers on his right hand covered in heavy bandages.

Many Libyans have a deep hatred for Moammar Gadhafi's favorite son, especially since he traded a reputation as a pro-Western reformer to become one of his father's most ruthless enforcers.

Earlier in the revolution, in a speech forgotten by few in this eastern city long defiant of the old regime, Seif promised insurgents a bloodbath as he wagged his finger menacingly to cameras.

But beyond the anger, Benghazi residents said they wanted to see Seif in a courtroom, and not lynched and dragged through the desert sand like his father.

"If we really want to promote the rule of law, then we must set the example with Seif," said fisherman Ahmed al-Alam, who was once imprisoned under the Gadhafi regime.

"He must be judged and vengeance must be applied here in Libya," Asma Ahmed added.

The arrest in Libya's desert south brought relief to those who saw Seif's freedom as a constant looming threat to the new order.

"Seif was a direct threat to the revolution. He has money and it was said he was rounding up mercenaries," said Adel Zwawa, 45.

"He could very well have stopped the revolution by financing sedition," said Idris Abdelmalek, a 52-year-old businessman.

On Tahrir Square, demonstrators sang the national anthem and then took turns at a makeshift dais.

One man composed a song poking fun at "zero ball", the nickname for Seif because of his shaved head.

"Zero ball, the revolutionaries caught you, where is your father now, zero ball?" he sang to laughter.

"Yesterday we caught the curly one (Moammar Gadhafi), today's it's the bald one," a young man joked.