Former Libyan dictator Moammer Gaddafi was killed after a final bloody showdown with rebel fighters
Former Libyan dictator Moammer Gaddafi was killed after a final bloody showdown with rebel fightersMoammer Gaddafiu00a0-- the dictator who ruled Libya with an iron fist for nearly 42 years before being driven from power by a long and bloody uprisingu00a0-- was captured and killed in a gun battle as he tried to flee his hometown of Sirte.
Celebrate good times: Libyans wave the National Transitional Council flag
as they rejoice the death of dictator Moammer Gaddafi. Many flashed
victory signs and chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great) and sang patriotic
songs on the streets.
A fighter celebrates as he holds the gold gun belonging to Gaddafi.
Fighters said that he was shot in the leg twice and also hit on the head
after he was found. pics/afpxLibyan Prime Minister, Mahmoud Jibril said, "We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Moammer Gaddafi has been killed."
According to reports, Gaddafi said "don't shoot" before he was killed.
"I am happy we have got revenge for our people who suffered for all these years and for those who were killed in the revolution. Gaddafi is finished," said a rebel fighter Talar al-Kashmi.
Joyous LibyansHuge celebrations broke out in Tripoli, with citizens cruising the streets in their cars, horns blaring and Free Libya flags flying, and ships in the capital's sweeping harbour sounding their horns. In Sirte, soldiers were firing their weapons in the air in celebration.
New regime troops reportedly captured Colonel Gaddafi yesterday as they overran the last pocket of resistance from loyalists in Sirte, bringing their seven-month uprising to a triumphant conclusion. Council fighters, who had fought in the conflict that toppled the despot at a cost of more than 25,000 lives, were jubilant.
Pick-up trucks blaring out music criss-crossed the streets, as fighters flashed V for victory signs and chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great).
Gaddafi's son slainMoammer Gaddafi's son Mutassim was also killed in Sirte, hours after his father died, a commander of the NTC confirmed. The commander also said fighters had encircled a place in Sirte where Gaddafi's other son Saif al-Islam was hiding.
25,000The approximate number of fighters that lost their lives during the 7 month fight
