The former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam may be fleeing to Zimbabwe with the help of South African mercenaries, local media reported on Sunday.

The local newspaper Cape Argus said that Al-Islam has crossed the Libyan border into Niger and may be on his way to Zimbabwe in the company of mercenaries from elsewhere in Africa, possibly including South Africa.

South Africa's International Relations and Cooperation Department spokesman Clayson Monyela said Saturday night that it was impossible to independently verify rumors of the involvement of South Africans in attempts to get Al-Islam out of Libya.

"By the very nature of such illegal activities, which will never be sanctioned by the South African government, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to confirm such activity," he added.

Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has said Al- Islam was negotiating to surrender for trial, while at the same time trying to secure entry to an African nation.

ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah said: "It depends where the suspect is and how we can get into contact with him, and what would be necessary to bring him to the Hague. There are different scenarios."