LIBYA: God, NATO and the rebels are those who made the revolution successful, says one Libyan, as crowds gather to celebrate in Misrata, following the death of Muammar Gaddafi

Record ID: 588875

  • Title: LIBYA: God, NATO and the rebels are those who made the revolution successful, says one Libyan, as crowds gather to celebrate in Misrata, following the death of Muammar Gaddafi
  • Date: 22nd October 2011
  • Summary: MISRATA, LIBYA (OCTOBER 21, 2011) (REUTERS) (NIGHTSHOTS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DURING RALLY IN MISRATA'S FREEDOM SQUARE
  • Embargoed: 6th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya, Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVAAQL6YQLBSMTM5A59249VHCNEP
  • Story Text: Misratans, rallying in Freedom Square to celebrate the death of Muammar Gaddafi on Friday (October 21), praised NATO's military campaign, which effectively helped topple the long-standing leader.
    "The role of NATO was a very big role. To be honest we are very grateful to NATO and we hope that NATO does not necessarily stop all its operations; maybe it should monitor the events that take place and decide whether or not to stop the operations, depending on the following events, because if things are calm then it is okay but God forbid, if something happens, then we might ask it (NATO) to come and protect us again," a doctor, Ibrahim al Ersawi, said.
    "NATO has a lot to offer to the people of Misrata and Libya in general. NATO did a great job and were able to protect civilians, and it has to be said, God, NATO and the rebels are those who made the revolution successful," another member of the crowd in the square, Riad Abdullah said.
    They were speaking just before NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced in Brussels that the alliance plans to end its seven-month air and sea campaign in Libya at the end of October.
    Rasmussen said that a meeting of NATO ambassadors in Brussels set Oct. 31 as a provisional date to end the mission and a formal decision would be made next week.
    He said the mission would be wound down in the period until the end of the month.
    NATO officials said the formal decision would be based on the perception of the security situation after the transitional authorities declared the formal liberation of Libya, something they say they plan to do on Sunday.
    Rasmussen said NATO had no intention to keep forces in the Libyan area after the end of the month.
    He said NATO had fulfilled its United Nations mandate to protect civilians in Libya with "remarkable success" and called it "a special moment in history."
    Gaddafi, who had been on the run for more than two months, was tracked down and killed in his hometown of Sirte on Thursday (October 20)after his convoy was hit by a NATO air strike.
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