Muammar Gaddafi killed in Libya

 

The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse has visited the drain where Col Gaddafi was reportedly found by NTC forces

Libya's ex-leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has been killed after an assault on his birthplace of Sirte, officials say.

National Transitional Council (NTC) Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril told a news conference in Tripoli it was time to launch a new, united Libya.

Col Gaddafi was toppled in August after 42 years in power.

The NTC now plans to officially announce Libya's "liberation" before indicating the next steps towards democratic elections.

Mr Jibril said NTC forces were now pursuing Saif al-Islam, Col Gaddafi's most prominent son, who fled Sirte in a convoy before Sirte fell.

Golden gun

After a day of conflicting reports and rumours, Mr Jibril told the news conference: "We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Muammar Gaddafi has been killed."

A video grab from al-Jazeera TV apparently showing Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's corpse Al-Jazeera TV broadcast footage it says showed Col Gaddafi's body

World leaders welcomed the news, urging the NTC to carry through its promise to reform the country.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who had taken a leading role in the Nato intervention, said it was "a day to remember all of Col Gaddafi's victims".

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called it a "historic" moment, but warned: "The road ahead for Libya and its people will be difficult and full of challenges."

Earlier, grainy video footage circulated among NTC fighters appearing to show Col Gaddafi's corpse.

The video shows a large number of NTC fighters yelling in chaotic scenes around a khaki-clad body, which has blood oozing from the face and neck.

Another video broadcast by al-Jazeera TV showed a body being dragged through the streets which the channel said was that of Col Gaddafi.

An NTC fighter told the BBC he found Col Gaddafi hiding in a hole in Sirte, and the former leader begged him not to shoot.

The fighter showed reporters a golden pistol he said he had taken from Col Gaddafi.

Arabic TV channels showed images of troops surrounding two large drainage pipes where the reporters said Col Gaddafi was found.

'Saif surrounded'

NTC supporters gathered in towns and cities to celebrate the reports of the colonel's death.

At the scene

Driving into the centre of Tripoli, there are throngs of people out on the streets - men, women and children - many hugging each other and chanting. Gunshots can be heard firing into the air - despite a religious edict banning the practice. Car horns are blaring and many vehicles have their emergency lights blinking.

At some checkpoints, security officials are handing out what have been dubbed "revolutionary mints" and biscuits.

All the flags are out. People are genuinely convinced this is the end of Col Gaddafi. They felt that even in hiding he posed a threat to the revolution - but for them this news means the authorities can now start to rebuild the country.

Groups of young men fired guns in the air, and drivers honked horns in celebration.

His death came after weeks of fierce fighting for Sirte, one of the last remaining pockets of resistance.

Nato, which has been running a bombing campaign in Libya for months, said it had carried out an air strike earlier on Thursday that hit two pro-Gaddafi vehicles near Sirte.

It was unclear whether the strikes were connected with Col Gaddafi's death.

Mr Jibril promised that National Transitional Council (NTC) chief Mustafa Abdul Jalil would give more details of how Col Gaddafi was killed either late on Thursday or during Friday.

He said Mr Abdul Jalil would also officially announce the "liberation of the country", allowing the NTC to begin pushing through democratic reforms that will lead to elections.

"I think it's for the Libyans to realise that it's time to start a new Libya, a united Libya, one people, one future," Mr Jibril said.

He also told the news conference that NTC forces had surrounded Saif al-Islam's convoy.

There are also rumours that another of the colonel's sons, Mutassim, was killed in Sirte.

 

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  • rate this
    +6

    Comment number 627.

    They removed a leader who kept the region under control. Now the area will be infested with terror groups and religious fanatics, just like Iraq after Sadam. When will the democracies of the world learn that democracy doesn't work for every nation and they cannot force it on the world without creating chaos.

  • rate this
    +2

    Comment number 419.

    This wasn't about oil - which was being traded at market rates before the Arab uprising. In fact, disruption to the supply has caused prices to rise which has contributed to rising inflation and economic anxiety here in the UK. This was about helping a people free themselves from an illegitimate leader without asking more of our own troops to die on foreign soil for someone else's cause. Job done.

  • rate this
    +21

    Comment number 418.

    Tripoli today looks like Doha, Qatar did in 1976 when I first went to live there. Doha today is covered in skyscrapers and Qatar is a very rich country.

    This is where Libya should have been. Gaddafi pilfered the oil wealth for his own use. Hopefully Libya will now start on its transformation to a wealthy oil rich Country.

    Good luck to Libya and all Libyans

  • rate this
    0

    Comment number 405.

    My husband was stationed in Libya just before Gaddafi and his ilk took over the country. His family (then wife and children) were forced to leave the country leaving him behind in his job as an AF pilot. A tough time for all of them and one they will never forget - they are pleased Gaddafi and his evil group will no longer will be a part of Libya.

  • rate this
    +14

    Comment number 389.

    A lesson to all leaders everywhere: absolute power corrupts absolutely...
    he started off as a young idealist concerned only for the benefit and future of his people, and ended by murdering thousands of them. A sad end, perhaps, but he deserved it. His hands were bloodier than his corpse ever could be...

 

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