20 October 2011 Last updated at 12:47 ET

Muammar Gaddafi killed in Libya

Below are reactions from Libya and around the world to reports that ousted leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has been killed.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

"This is only the end of the beginning. The road ahead for Libya and its people will be difficult and full of challenges. Now's the time for all Libyans to come together. Libyans can only realise the promise of the future through national unity and reconciliation.

"Combatants on all sides must lay down their arms in peace. This is the time for healing and rebuilding, for generosity of spirit, not for revenge.

"As Libya's transitional authorities prepare the way for elections and take the many other steps towards building their new nation, inclusion and pluralism must be the watchwords.

"All Libyans must be able to recognise themselves in the nation's government and leadership. The high hopes sustained through the long days of revolution and conflict must translate into opportunities and justice for all."

British Prime Minister David Cameron

"Today is a day to remember all of Colonel Gaddafi's victims. From those who died in connection with the Pan Am Flight over Lockerbie, to Yvonne Fletcher in a London street, and obviously all the victims of IRA terrorism who died through their use of Libyan Semtex.

"We should also remember the many, many Libyans who died at the hands of this brutal dictator and his regime. People in Libya today have an even greater chance, after this news, of building themselves a strong and democratic future.

I'm proud of the role that Britain has played in helping them to bring that about and I pay tribute to the bravery of the Libyans who've helped to liberate their country. We will help them, we will work with them."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy

"The disappearance of Muammar Gaddafi is a major step forward in the battle fought for more than eight months by the Libyan people to liberate themselves from the dictatorial and violent regime imposed on them for more than 40 years.

"The liberation of Sirte must signal... the start of a process agreed by the NTC to establish a democratic system in which all groups in the country have their place and where fundamental freedoms are guaranteed. Now is the time for reconciliation in unity and freedom."

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi

"Sic transit gloria mundi (the glory of the world is fleeting). Now the war is over."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

"This brings to an end a bloody war that Gaddafi waged against his own people. The path is now finally clear for a fresh political start, in peace. Germany is relieved and very happy about this.

"Libya should now carry out political reforms to ensure the achievements of the Arab Spring cannot be undone."

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy

"The reported death of Muammar Gaddafi marks the end of an era of despotism and an end also to the repression from which the Libyan people have suffered for too long. Today Libya can turn a page in its history and embrace a new democratic future."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

"We hope that there will be peace in Libya, and that all those who are governing the state, different representatives of Libyan tribes, will reach a final agreement on the configuration of power and Libya will be a modern democratic state."

US Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee

"Gaddafi's death marks the end of his reign of terror and the promise of a new Libya. The United States demonstrated clear-eyed leadership, patience and foresight by pushing the international community into action after Gaddafi promised a massacre.

"Although the administration was criticised both for moving too quickly and for not moving quickly enough, it is undeniable that the Nato campaign prevented a massacre and contributed mightily to Gaddafi's undoing without deploying boots on the ground or suffering a single American fatality. This is a victory for multilateralism and successful coalition-building in defiance of those who derided Nato and predicted a very different outcome.

Gaddafi denied Libya the basic building blocks of democracy and instead leaves behind a legacy of cruelty and international isolation. This is an extraordinary moment, but the days ahead will not be easy. The Middle East revolutions remind us that creating a free and tolerant political order is a more difficult challenge than removing a despotic one."

US Senator John McCain

"The death of Muammar Gaddafi marks an end to the first phase of the Libyan revolution. While some final fighting continues, the Libyan people have liberated their country. Now the Libyan people can focus all of their immense talents on strengthening their national unity, rebuilding their country and economy, proceeding with their democratic transition, and safeguarding the dignity and human rights of all Libyans.

"The United States, along with our European allies and Arab partners, must now deepen our support for the Libyan people, as they work to make the next phase of their democratic revolution as successful as the fight to free their country."