Muammar Gaddafi killed in Libya
Libya’s ex-leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has been killed after an assault on his home town of Sirte, the transitional authority’s acting prime minister says.
Mahmoud Jibril told a news conference in Tripoli it was time to launch a new, united Libya.
Video footage has been broadcast around the world showing a battered body claimed to be that of Col Gaddafi.
He was toppled in August after 42 years in power. The International Criminal Court has been seeking his arrest.
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.”
Grainy video footage had earlier been circulating 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.
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 were pursuing Col Gaddafi’s most prominent son, Saif al-Islam.
He had fled in a convoy during the battle for Sirte, but NTC fighters had now surrounded him, said Mr Jibril.
There are also rumours that another of the colonel’s sons, Mutassim, was killed in Sirte.
Source: BBC