Muammar Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for 42 years after coming to power in a coup, was killed Thursday by National Transitional Council fighters in his hometown Sirte.

Gaddafi, 69, begged for mercy as the fighters advanced menacingly. "Don't shoot," cried Gaddafi who cowered in a hole in which he was hiding. Television channels flashed images of a bloodied Gaddafi who was leaning against a fighter. Gaddafi died of his wounds Thursday, a National Transitional Council (NTC) field commander told Xinhua.

The commander, Mohemmed Buras Ali Al-Maknee, had earlier said that a group of fighters from the western Libyan city of Misrata captured Gaddafi, who had been severely injured. He had been injured in both his legs during the fierce battle at Sirte. Al-Jazeera TV quoted Abdel Hakim Belhaj, NTC's military chief in Tripoli, as confirming that Gaddafi had been killed.

As soon as the news of his capture spread, people were overjoyed. Ecstatic Libyans honked horns and celebrated on the streets. But his death has not yet been officially announced by the NTC high-ups.