LONDON (AP)--Seif el-Islam Gadhafi, a son of Libya's leader, opened an exhibit of art and antiquities from his country, including dozens of his own paintings, in an effort to promote tourism in the North African state.

A troupe of 22 traditionally dressed Tuareg dancers posed for photographers and tourists at Tuesday's event in a tent in Kensington Gardens, next to the Royal Albert Memorial in central London.

Some of the works appeared to be political, such as ``The Challenge,'' which shows an image of his father, Col. Moammar Gadhafi, over the sea during a sunset. On the beach in the foreground, facing away from the viewer, are three black-robed and hooded figures, two of whom are holding large crucifixes.

Seif el-Islam Gadhafi said the hooded figures represent death, but he declined to interpret the work. That role seemed to fall to the exhibition brochure, which said it was one of several works showing Libya's defiance of former international sanctions.

``I hope it will encourage people to go to Libya,'' said the artist, who is one of seven children of Col. Gadhafi. [...]