In circumstances remarkably similar to the those surrounding the capture of Iraq’s brutal dictator Saddam Hussein, Libyan rebels have captured and killed Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
In the final rebel attack on the town of his birthplace the former Libyan dictator was badly wounded in both legs and shot in the head – and died from his wounds.
He is said to have died shortly after rebel fighters finally overran his loyalists defending the coastal town of Sirte – finally ending the last remnants of his 42 year hold on Libya.
Celeb Dirty Laundry has decided not to post the graphic pictures and footage of his capture, but you can see the video footage HERE! and many pictures HERE!
Libyan National Transitional Council official Abdel Majid Mlegta said Gaddafi was captured and wounded in both legs at dawn today 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.”
Information Minister Mahmoud Shammam says he has confirmed that Gaddafi is dead after talking to fighters who said they saw the body.
He says he expects the prime minister to confirm the death soon, noting that past reports emerged “before making 100% confirmation.”
Television broadcasts showed footage of NTC troops celebrating the fall of Sirte and the apparent capture of Gaddafi, who was wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
There were fierce gun battles on the streets of the coastal city in the morning, bringing an end to a siege which has lasted almost two months since the fall of capital Tripoli to rebel troops in August.
“Our forces control the last neighbourhood in Sirte,” NTC member Hassan Draoua said. “The city has been liberated.”
Shortly afterwards senior National Transitional Council commanders claimed Gaddafi had died from wounds sustained in the final assault.
NATO said it was checking reports of the capture of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya and said they could take some time to confirm.
‘”We are checking and assessing the situation.’” a NATO official said. ‘”Clearly these are very significant developments, which will take time to confirm.”
Gaddafi has been rumoured to be hiding in Sirte for many weeks, although it was also believed he may be in his desert stronghold of Bani Walid, to the south.
The ecstatic former rebels celebrated the fall of Sirte after weeks of bloody siege by firing endless rounds into the sky, pumping their guns, knives and even a meat cleaver in the air and singing the national anthem.
Some burned the green Gaddafi flag, then stepped on it with their boots.
They chanted “Allah akbar” or “God is great”, while one fighter climbed a traffic light pole to unfurl the revolution’s flag, which he first kissed.
A Libyan fighter claimed Gaddafi was hiding in a hole in his hometown of Sirte shouting: “Don’t shoot, don’t shoot.”
In a statement on NTC-controlled state television, a presenter draped in the flag of liberated Libya said: “Gaddafi is in the hands of the rebels. Gaddafi personally is in the hands of the rebels.”
“We have captured Gaddafi. Libya is joyous, Libya is celebrating, Libya has given a lesson to all those who want to learn.”
“I salute you, rebels. I salute you, revolutionaries. You have captured this criminal who has killed the mothers of the martyrs.”
Reporters saw revolutionaries beating captured Gaddafi men in the back of trucks and officers intervening to stop them.
Ghadaffi is dead – but Libya still faces a long and rough road before it attains a semblance of democracy, rule of law, property rights, and the respect of individual rights and freedoms.
