Mauritanian authorities have extradited slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s former spy chief, Abdullah al-Senussi to Libya on Wednesday.

Mauritanian authorities have extradited slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s former spy chief,  Abdullah al-Senussi to Libya on Wednesday.

Nearly five months after Senussi was arrested for entering Mauritania illegally, Nouakchott announced it had handed over the former spy chief to the new Libyan authorities.

"Mauritanian authorities hand over ex-Libyan spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi to Libya," read a newsflash on the state television’s screen written in Arabic.

An official source speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that Al-Senussi had "effectively left Mauritania".

A delegation from Libya, including the defense minister and army chief of staff, was in Nouakchott on Tuesday for a visit which several official sources said was in connection with the extradition.

Libya has pushed hard for the extradition of Gaddafi’s brother-in-law who is also wanted by France and the International Criminal Court in The Hague.