LIBYA: Libyans take to the streets of Tripoli to celebrate reports of deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi's death

Record ID: 422114

  • Title: LIBYA: Libyans take to the streets of Tripoli to celebrate reports of deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi's death
  • Date: 21st October 2011
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (OCTOBER 20, 2011) (REUTERS) LIBYAN NTC FIGHTERS HOLDING MACHINE GUNS CELEBRATING IN TRIPOLI STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MISRATA RESIDENT VISITING TRIPOLI, HUSSEIN MAINI, SAYING: "We are happy. We are happy. We are done with him. We are done with his oppression. We have been waiting for this moment for years and now we are at peace because he is gone." LIBYAN INDEPENDENCE FLAG CARS BEEPING HORNS MEN WAVING FLAG FROM PASSING CAR WOMEN IN CAR WAVING FLAG WOMEN IN STREET CELEBRATING CARS BEEPING HORNS PEOPLE RUNNING PAST WAVING FLAGS PEOPLE CELEBRATING UNDER FREE LIBYA BANNER WOMAN IN CAR HOLDING FLAG
  • Embargoed: 5th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya, Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVA77NCY18AX7L7OCJ5EO78Z1XCU
  • Story Text: Libyan came out on to the streets of Tripoli on Thursday (October 20) to celebrate reports of his death in the seizure of his hometown Sirte by interim government forces.
    Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) official Abdel Majid said on Thursday that Gaddafi had been captured and wounded, and a senior NTC military official later said he had died of his wounds.
    In Tripoli National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters fired their machine guns in the air in celebration.
    Drivers beeped horns and people waved Libya independence flags in delight as they took to the capital's streets in celebration.
    "We are happy. We are happy. We are done with him. We are done with his oppression. We have been waiting for this moment for years and now we are at peace because he is gone," said Hussein Maini, a Misratan visiting Tripoli.
    Residents of Tripoli gave thanks to God, the anti-Gaddafi fighters and NATO.
    "(we thank) God and the rebels and NATO, God the rebels and NATO. Libyans are free." said one resident.
    "Congratulations to all the rebels of February 17th for the liberation. God is great. God is great." added another.
    "Libya is free. The Libyans are free."
    While another resident said Gaddafi never believed that he would be caught.
    "Where, where will you escape from them. They told him it would fall but he never listened," he said.
    Reports that Gaddafi was killed on Thursday surfaced as Libya's new leaders declared they had overrun the last bastion of his long rule, sparking wild celebrations that eight months of war may finally be over.
    Details of the death near Sirte of the fallen strongman were hazy but it was announced by several officials of the NTC and backed up by a photograph of a bloodied face ringed by familiar, Gaddafi-style curly hair.
    Western powers, who have backed the rebellion which took the capital Tripoli two months ago, said they were still checking.
    NATO said its aircraft fired on a convoy near Sirte earlier, but would not confirm reports that Gaddafi had been a passenger.
    Several NTC fighters in Sirte said they had seen Gaddafi shot dead, though their accounts varied.
    The head of Libya's National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, will address the nation later on Thursday, Libyan channel Free Libya reported.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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