Al-jazeera: Reports that Muammar Gaddafi killed in gun battle following fall of Sirte.

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Muammar Gaddafi ‘killed’ in gun battle

Reports say that toppled leader and the head of his armed forces have both been killed, following the fall of Sirte.

Last Modified: 20 Oct 2011 12:19

A senior NTC official has said that Muammar Gaddafi has died of his wounds after being captured near Sirte.Another NTC commander said that Moussa Ibrahim, former spokesman for Muammar Gaddafi’s fallen government, was also captured near the Sirte.Abdul Hakim Al Jalil, commander of the 11th brigade, also said he had seen the body of the chief of Gaddafi’s armed forces, Abu Bakr Younus Jabr.”I’ve seen him with my own eyes,” he said and showed Reuters a picture of Jabr’s body.”Moussa Ibrahim was also captured and both of them were transferred to (our) operations room.”

Earlier, Jamal abu-Shaalah, a field commander of NTC, told Al Jazeera that the toppled leader had been seized, but it was not clear whether he was dead or alive.

“He’s captured. He’s wounded in both legs … He’s been taken away by ambulance,” Abdel Majid, a senior NTC military official said.

The news came shortly after NTC claimed capturing Sirte, Gaddafi’s hometown, after weeks of fighting.

NATO and the US state department said it cannot confirm the reports of Gaddafi’s death. Meanwhile in Benghazi, crowds gathered in the streets to start celebrating the reports of Gaddafi’s death

Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte falls to NTC

Libyan forces take full control of city, with loyalists of former leader fleeing after weeks of fighting.

Last Modified: 20 Oct 2011 11:59

Gunfires were heard in the heart of Sirte as celebrations started across the country [Reuters]

Libyan National Transitional Council fighters say they have captured the last positions held by Muammar Gaddafi’s loyalists in the deposed leader’s hometown of Sirte.

“Sirte has been liberated. There are no Gaddafi forces any more,” Colonel Yunus Al Abdali, head of operations in the
eastern half of the city, said on Thursday.

“We are now chasing his fighters who are trying to run away.”

Another front line commander confirmed the capture of the Mediterranean coastal city, which was the last remaining
significant bastion of pro-Gaddafi fighters almost three months after the former leader was overthrown by NTC forces.

The AP news agency reported that the final push to capture the final parts of the city began around 0800 local time and was over after about 90 minutes.

Fighters on the ground did not allow reporters to enter the positions formerly held by the Gaddafi loyalists as they said mopping up operations were still under way.

Reuters reported sound of shooting could be heard coming from the west of the city.

Al Jazeera’s James Bays, reporting from Tripoli, said a convoy of 100 cars is heading West to Misrata from Sirte.

“It is yet not clear who is in the convoy but some of the fighters say high levels of Gaddafi regime are part of it,” he said.

Events are rapidly unfolding and Al Jazeera sources are saying that Gaddafi might have been killed.

Celebratory gunfire

At least 16 pro-Gaddafi fighters were captured, along with multiple cases of ammunition and trucks loaded with weapons. They were beaten up and later taken away in the back of trucks.

Hundreds of NTC troops have been surrounding Gaddafi’s last bastion in a deadly struggle that exacted a heavy toll on human lives.

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NTC fighters said there were a large number of corpses inside the battle zones, but it was not immediately possible to verify the claim.

Celebratory gunfire were heard in the heart of the city, which fell into the hands of Libya’s new rulers almost two full months after Tripoli was captured. Gunfire and car horns were blaring in Tripoli as celebrations started across the country.

Despite the fall of Tripoli on August 21, Gaddafi loyalists have been putting up a fierce fight in several areas, including Sirte, preventing Libya’s new leaders from declaring full victory in the eight-month conflict.

Gaddafi, wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of ordering the killing of civilians, has been hiding since he was toppled.

Earlier this week, fighters gained control of another stronghold, Bani Walid, and by Tuesday said they had squeezed Gaddafi’s forces in Sirte into a residential area of about 700 square metres.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/10/20111020111520869621.html

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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