Saif al-Islam, Colonel Gaddafi’s heir apparent, emerged defiant at his father’s Tripoli compound hours after reports of his arrest by rebel forces.

A defiant Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who acted as de-facto prime minister to his father, appeared early this morning in a carpark at his father’s Bab al-Azizya compound in Tripoli before taking reporters on a tour of the parts of the capital still controlled by the regime.

“Tripoli is under our control. Everyone should rest assured. All is well in Tripoli,” he boasted as gunfire rattled around the port city.

Yesterday the rebels announced Saif al-Islam was under arrest and negotiations were underway to hand him to the International Criminal Court, which has indicted him for crimes against humanity.

The ICC appear to have taken the rebels at their word – but have not said what evidence it had to prove his detention. . .