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BY JIM FLINK

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

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Hunted by rebels, bounty hunters and foreign forces -- ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is a hard man to find.

Some are now speculating -- he was part of a Libyan convoy spotted crossing into southern neighbor Niger.

Others aren’t so sure.

Here’s the latest -- from Al Jazeera.

“The owner of a local newspaper there says he’s only seen little more than a dozen pickup trucks, but they are heavily armed with Libyan soldiers on board.”

So -- why Niger?

Al-Arabiya reports, it’s one of a score of African nations -- seen as friendly to Gaddafi.

“Qaddafi remains especially popular in towns like Agadez, where a majority of the population is Tuareg and where the ex-ruler is remembered for his largesse and for his assistance to the Tuareg minority during their fight for autonomy.”

The Tripoli Post notes, Niger could simply be a pathway to Gaddafi’s eventual destination -- one more African nation removed.

“Sources in Niger who witnessed the convoy entering Agadez (say)... they saw a lot of cash and even gold in some of the vehicles, and that it was heavily armed. They also reported that the convoy could be travelling on, first to the Niger capital city of Niamey, and then perhaps to Burkina Faso.”

A Tuareg nomad commander reportedly led the convoy-- which was also reportedly being escorted by the Nigerien army. Curious because -- Niger -- officially has recognized the rebel leadership in Libya.  The Global Post notes, if he’s seeking to start a new life -- Gaddafi has history on his side.

“The trans-Sahara route from Agadez, through Arlit to Libya has long been used by Tuareg nomads as well as migrants from West Africa seeking a new life in Europe.”

But France 24 reports, the official version from Gaddafi loyalists -- is that he is still in Libya. 

“Firstly, the leader -- Colonel Muammar Gaddafi -- is in excellent health and in high spirits.  He is present, and well, and in good health, and is in a place that cannot be reached by those fractious groups, and he is in Libya.”

Finally -- Voice of America reports -- if Gaddafi does entrench himself into middle Africa, it may be hard to find him -- as he has many friends in the region.

“In the past decade, Colonel Gadhafi pushed Libya toward closer ties with other African countries, and used his oil money to forge tighter relationships with the continent's leaders.  Some African countries continue to recognize Colonel Gadhafi as Libya's leader."

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