Dead or alive? Gaddafi ‘killed’ by rebels
Source: independent.ie
There was uncertainty today as to whether deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has been killed or just wounded and captured in his stronghold of Sirte
Confused reports from Libya, after the fall of the town, at first indicated that he had been injured in both legs but was in custody.
Later reports to Reuters news agency said that he had died from wounds sustained in the battle.
Some members of Gaddafi’s family fled over the border in August, but other family members were with him.
Al Jazeera reported spontaneous celebration in the cities of Benghazi and Tripoli, with people cheering and shouting, car horns sounding and small arms fire being heard.
Rebels converged on the centre of Sirte declaring outright victory and hoisted the new national flag over the former stronghold of Gaddafi and his supporters.
In the early hours of the morning, at least five cars carrying loyalist fighters attempted to escape the city, but most were rounded up and killed by revolutionaries.
Libyan rebels then moved into the city’s Number Two residential neighbourhood, which was the last pocket of pro-Gaddafi resistance left in the war-torn country.
"Sirte has been liberated. There are no Gaddafi forces any more," said Col Yunus Al Abdali, head of operations in the eastern half of the city. "We are now chasing his fighters who are trying to run away."
However, there were reports that Gaddafi loyalists had ditched their military uniforms and were firing indiscriminately at civilians.
The final assault on the remaining pro-Gaddafi positions began around 8am (7am GMT) on Thursday and was over after about 90 minutes.
Civilians, whose city has been under siege since Gaddafi was removed from power at the end of August, were making their way to the centre to celebrate. The Telegraph, witnessing scenes in the centre of the city siad there were scens of relief, jubilation and intense celebratory gunfire among National Transitional Council (NTC) forces.
The new national flag was raised above a large utilities building in the Mediterranean city, which had been under siege for nearly two months.
A rebel commander confirmed that loyalist fighters in the city had been rounded up.
"This is the last day of the fight," Lieutenant Colonel Hussein Abdel Salam of the Misurata Brigade told AFP. "Within some hours we will announce that Sirte is free."
Abdel Salam said that National Transitional Council troops were now carrying out a mopping up operation in the city’s Number Two residential neighbourhood, the last redoubt of Gaddafi loyalists in the war-torn country.
Rebel officials have claimed that Sirte has been liberated several times in the past three weeks. The capture of the town raises hopes that the rebels will be in a position to claim outright victory.
A rump of pro-Gaddafi fighters have been holding out against rebel troops, in a bloody battle that has left dozens dead on both sides and major damage to the city, which was Gaddafi’s birthplace.
The fate of the city has become entwined with the immediate political future of Libya after the National Transitional Council said a full interim government could not be named until Sirte had fallen.
Gaddafi was at one time believed to be hiding in Sirte, but his whereabouts remain unknown. Sirte was lavished with money by him and treated as a second capital.
It was reported that Gaddafi was captured as he tried to flee in a convoy which was attacked by Nato.
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Read the full article at: independent.ie
Ed Note: Pics or it didn’t happen. ~E
Gaddafi dies of wounds: NTC official
By Samia Nakhoul | Reuters.com
SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) - Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi died of wounds suffered in his capture near his hometown of Sirte on Thursday, a senior NTC military official said.
National Transitional Council official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters earlier that Gaddafi was captured and wounded in both legs at dawn on Thursday as he tried to flee in a convoy which NATO warplanes attacked.
"He was also hit in his head," the official said. "There was a lot of firing against his group and he died."
There was no independent confirmation of his remarks.
(reporting by Samia Nakhoul; editing by David Stamp)
Anti-Gaddafi fighters celebrated the fall of Sirte October 20, 2011. Libyan interim government fighters captured Muammar Gaddafi’s home town on Thursday, extinguishing the last significant resistance by forces loyal to the deposed leader and ending a two-month siege. REUTERS/Esam Al-Fetori
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