Libya rejoices as Gaddafi is killed
2011-10-20 19:16
Cairo - Libya's defence chief Jalal Al Digheily confirmed in a press conference in Benghazi on Thursday that the country's deposed leader, Muammar Gaddafi, had died.
"Although the Libyan revolution achieved one of its objectives by eliminating Gaddafi, the ultimate aim of the revolution is to rebuild the nation on the basis of law, the constitution and justice," added Al Digheily.
He said attention should now focus on re-establishing security and controlling arms proliferation in the country.
Footage broadcast on regional television stations showed the body of Gaddafi apparently inside an ambulance that took him from his hometown of Sirte to Misrata, located about 200km southeast of Tripoli.
Fatal gunshot to head, stomach
A doctor who works at a hospital in Misrata said Gaddafi had sustained fatal gunshot injuries to the head and stomach.
Libyans had already been pouring into the streets to celebrate the news of Gaddafi's capture, while Western leaders called on the country's transitional government to embrace a new era of democracy after decades of despotism in the African state.
The capture and death of Libya's long-time tyrant has arguably been the most dramatic event of the so-called Arab Spring, a period of revolt that began in Tunisia towards the end of last year.
Gaddafi, who had ruled with an iron fist since 1969, was arrested in his hometown of Sirte. The fugitive leader was believed to have been captured while driving in a convoy of cars fleeing the city.
Nato, which has been enforcing a no-fly zone and supporting anti-Gaddafi forces with airstrikes, was also believed to have played a key role, confirming that its jets had bombed a military "convoy" near Sirte in the morning.
Jubilation
The news came shortly after troops, backed by Libya's transitional leadership, said they had fully captured Gaddafi's last stronghold.
The news of Gaddafi's capture prompted scenes of jubilation through the streets of Sirte, with televised footage showing anti-Gaddafi fighters celebrating the fall of the port city by shooting in the air as others tore up Gaddafi portraits.
Appearing behind them were heavily damaged buildings in Sirte's Second District, which was the scene of stiff resistance put up by Gaddafi loyalists.
According to Al Jazeera, forces loyal to the National Transitional Council had also arrested Ahmed Ibrahim, who served as head of a governmental research centre in the Gaddafi regime.
Ibrahim was reportedly one of the key commanders who had been leading the fight against anti-Gaddafi forces in Sirte over the past weeks.
Libya's former defence minister Abu Bakr Younis was also killed in the fighting, according to Free Libya TV.
The National Transitional Council has been running the affairs of the country since Gaddafi was deposed in late August.
Last month, it said it would delay the formation of an interim government until all the country had been "liberated."
- SAPA