Libya’s former spy chief went on trial today on charges of ordering attacks on civilians and forming an armed group to incite sedition and civil war, in the first trial of a former official in Muammar Qaddafi’s regime.

Abuzeid Dorda, who headed Libya’s foreign intelligence service, was also accused of using force to prevent peaceful demonstrations, the unlawful detention of civilians and abuse of office, the official Libya News Agency said. It didn’t say what sentence he could face if convicted.

Dorda is the first official to have served under Qaddafi’s regime to be brought to trial under the new interim government. Qaddafi was captured and killed months after the uprising began last February.

One of the former leader’s sons, heir-apparent Saif al- Islam Qaddafi, is being held by the Zintan militia and the government has refused to hand him over for trial before the International Criminal Court, saying he must be tried at home.

The session was adjourned until June 26 after the prosecution and the defense made their opening remarks, the agency said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Saleh Sarar in Dubai at ssarar@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at barden@bloomberg.net