Cairo's prosecution office on Tuesday ordered the detention of Ahmed Gadhaf El-Dam, cousin and former aide of late Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, for four days pending investigation.

The high-profile former diplomat wanted by Libyan authorities faces charges of possessing unlicensed weapons and illegal surveillance devices, resisting arrest and attempting to murder a police officer.

Gadhaf El-Dam has denied the charges, claiming that he was not the owner of the arms and wireless devices found in his apartment or that he had attempted to kill the police officers who arrested him.

Gadhaf El-Dam was arrested last March from his home in Cairo's upscale Zamalek neighbourhood, along with other former Qaddafi regime members.

Tripoli has demanded El-Dam's extradition to Libya. But an Egyptian administrative court recently ruled against the move after El-Dam's lawyer presented documents showing that his client was an Egyptian national who requested political asylum.