The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Gaddafi killed, say Libyan officials

Major news agencies reporting that the former dictator has died after being arrested. Warning: conta

By Samira Shackle Published 20 October 2011 13:35

The image above --taken on a mobile phone -- appears to show Muammar Gaddafi being arrested in Sirte.

It is now being reported by major news agencies including Reuters that the former dictator has died of his injuries. Sky News has played a video which appears to show Gaddafi's body being dragged through the streets of Sirte.

This comes after revolutionaries took Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown and the final stronghold of his loyalists.

Earlier today, the Information Centre for the Misrata Military Council said:

Now in contact with our correspondent at the front of the Sirte. The tyrant Muammar Gaddafi was arrested. God is great and thank God.

Following this, the National Transitional Council's information minister, Mahmoud Shammam, appeared on al-Jazeera. He stopped short of confirming the claim -- which was being widely reported on Libyan TV -- but alluded to the rumour:

I think we can say that Sirte is liberated ...I think the celebrations are going on right now. Also there's big talk about some big fish on their way to Misrata. I cannot confirm anything but people over there are talking they caught a big fish.

Asked about the NTC's intentions if Gaddafi had been captured, he said:

We are going to put him in front of the court, we're not going to hang him in the street. We are going to give him the fair trial he never gave the Libyan people. We hope that we are catching some big names so we can put them in the court and let the people have the last word on their fate ...I think every Libyan wants to see Gaddafi stand trial.

Abdel Majid, another NTC official, appeared to confirm the capture by telling Reuters that Gaddafi was injured in both legs.

UPDATE - 12.56: Al-Jazeera and Reuters are both reporting that Gaddafi has been killed.

Tags: Libya Gaddafi Colonel Gaddafi

More from Samira Shackle

View the discussion thread.

31 comments

Thu, 2011-10-20 21:28 — Luddite (not verified)

No reply Lady J: Here's the response to the Libyan events from Latin America's radicals it's perplexing and quite disturbing. The great Chávez himself has praised Gaddafi and echoed directly the views on the Libyan revolution offered by Fidel Castro. Castro has counselled caution and patience, warning that since the US media are consistently reporting the insurrection and denouncing Gaddafi's brutal repression it must clearly be suspect. Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua, rushed to present himself to the press as a fervent supporter of the Libyan leader in his 'sterling defence of his nation'. All sound foolish now, here's hoping the long suffering Libyan people remember who supported them and who condemned them to brutal repression.

Thu, 2011-10-20 21:51 — Lady J (not verified)

I do not spend all my time on NS but dip in and out. I also do not take a discussion beyond a stage of hopelessness, but I will say this much;

If you do not want to label yourself, then why do you label others?

And;

Those one may label as freedom fighters is another's Terrorist and visa versa.

Nelson Mandela was labelled a Terrorist.

Much Love
Good night.

Thu, 2011-10-20 21:59 — Jobles

Lady J, Luddite wake up please... its not about dictators and democrats its about resources, about hegemony. When the dust settles the and democracy takes a hold of Libya those who have only seen a dictator all their lives will realize that under democracy they are finally empowered... but only for one day when they vote. This time they will be under a legitimized dictator under the garb of DEMOCRACY. This legitimized ruler who claims to work for the good of the people is in fact working for the corporate sector ( mega oil companies in this case) and also of course for his own good.
Libya is resource rich and this war booty will certainly make the prosperous somewhat more 'prosperous' (Halliburton et al)

Thu, 2011-10-20 22:01 — Jobles

I support Democracy but todays Democracy is just like a business entity; it has to change, has to evolve and prove that it is a system for the good of mankind and not an eyewash. Not democracy alone but the WORLD ECONOMIC ORDER has to change AS WELL to resemble the HUMAN RIGHTS slogan. Do you know that just one giant corporation has enough staple grains stashed in its silos and warehouses around the world to feed the entire humanity for 6 months and still be left with grains to continue commercial operations whereas around 150 million people around the world face early death from mal-nutrition and starvation... VIVA LA DEMOCRACY!! VIVA LA CAPITALISM !!! THE BOSS OF MODERN DEMOCRACY

Thu, 2011-10-20 22:24 — p j wall (not verified)

Luddite.....I think you`ll find that your hero and goddess Thatcher was a close friend of despot Pinochet?, she was also a strong appeaser of the murderous South African apartheid regime?, she also supported Saddam against Iran?, she also supported the Mujahideen(Taliban) against the Russians?, as usual you`re talking a good load of EXCREMENT!!!.

Sun, 2011-10-23 19:26 — Dave (not verified)

Moral Maze.
Is it moral to kill a million to save a life?
Is it moral to destroy Libya to protect civilians?
Or is it immoral to promote a virtue to inflict a vice?

Fri, 2011-10-21 10:54 — NEN (not verified)

who are the real terrorists? Gadafi or Nato and America? These stupid mulims will understand v soon.

Thu, 2011-10-20 14:02 — swatantra

Its better that he went down fighting rather than face a show trial. Let that be an end to Libya's woes. But I doubt it.

Fri, 2011-10-21 12:47 — Abed (not verified)

Thats the way for Dictators, they think they can control the world? how has he killed, why mercy when he is no more? If he was a strong man, why did he run to hide in holes?

Sat, 2011-10-22 21:35 — maxinemf

We should not forget the number of Ghadaffi fighters who were shown no mercy by the rebel fighters. Who is going to investigate their human rights abuses. What about all the Africans held in Benghazi. How come the media cameras are not being let in.

Thu, 2011-10-20 14:57 — Trevor (not verified)

One less dictator oppressing, persecuting and torturing his people.

Rejoice, rejoice.

Thu, 2011-10-20 15:05 — Yinka Oyesanya

It is a shame that anarchy and chaos has been allowed to reign. I just hope the British Government does not regret the part they've played in this barbaric form of regime change.

Thu, 2011-10-20 15:10 — Yinka Oyesanya

The picture above is a harrowing image that proves that nothing in life belongs to us; and we should learn to let go at the right time

Thu, 2011-10-20 15:14 — Lady J (not verified)

Samira

CORRECTION.

NATO forces killed Gadafi.

Unfortunately for the NTC, this will make reconcilliation amongst the Libyans more difficult.

Thu, 2011-10-20 15:24 — prabhat (not verified)

was gaddafi really a culprit

Thu, 2011-10-20 16:03 — Chir0n

It remains to be seen what happens in Libya, whether they actually will be better off. Some of the reports about the rebel victimisation of black people cause me to worry. A population that's been brutalised often becomes brutal itself.

Gaddafi was a terrible dictator, but has the door been opened to something worse? I really hope not.

Thu, 2011-10-20 16:14 — maxinemf

I agree with Lady J. The idea that the NTC fighters killed Ghadaffi is fanciful. Ghadaffi was taken to Sirte by NATO which became increasingly frustrated with the slow progress of th campaign. The pictures showing Ghadaffi on the street and the need for utter humiliation of Ghadaffi tells us what the new Libya will be like. Whatever you may think of Ghadaffi at least he went down fighting. The truth is that whatever he offered, was never going to be enough fro NATO. I believe that Ghadaffi's body was taken to Sirte once it was clear that the birth of President Sarkozy's baby was out of the way. Planned from beginning to end!!!!!!!

Thu, 2011-10-20 16:16 — maxinemf

Do we know what has happened to the billions of dollars relased to the NTC???????

Thu, 2011-10-20 16:27 — Freeman2

Bloody great sigh of relief from Blair I bet.

Thu, 2011-10-20 16:28 — Lady J (not verified)

The NTC have just paraded about half a dozen Africans and as usual, the BBC News Live present promptly label them as Gadafi's fighters.

Please note that there are lots of legal migrant workers from Africa in Libya as well as Africans who have been granted Libyan citizenship by Gadafi to help Africans better their livesby emigrating to an oil rich African Arab state. As you are all aware Africans normally find it difficult to escape from war torn countries and are usually the victims caught in the cross-fire; either because their own governments cannot rescue them or the Western world simply does NOT award any value to an African Life.

SHAME ON YOU BBC.

Thu, 2011-10-20 16:41 — willoyen

@prabhat:was gaddafi really a culprit. I think not the culprit he was made out to be. But people swallow whole the rubbish they are fed. He did a lot for Libya when he seized power in 1969 on. A country which at independence,1962, had virtually nothing. Not a doctor, a college, an engineer...etc. He helped development and Libyans. I saw, I was there in the 70s. He helped his African neighbours. Mali was grateful and offered him asylum. The Brits and French and Nato may crow, but it is unseemly to see the profiteers rolling in thick and fast. Lord Inge has already been to talk up security. Presumably fat contracts for his private security business interests, a former Commander in C of the UK armed forces,like all of them using war for private profit.

Thu, 2011-10-20 17:05 — Bill Fraser (not verified)

Lady J

There were lots from African countries paid to fight for Gadaffi,
they ruthlessly killed innocent men, women and children on the streets of Libyan cities,

Thu, 2011-10-20 17:43 — Lady J (not verified)

Bill

Unlike you, I have an Aunt in the International Criminal Court and family in very senior positions in the UN.

Thousands of African Families have registered their families missing in Libya and not once have the Western media made an effort to find them.

Most of the missing are Christians from Nigeria and Ghana and are in no way allied to Gadafi.

Ghanaians returning from Africa provided evidence of dead fellow African migrant workers on the oil fields of Libya, hacked to death. Their mobile phones were siezed by the Authorities. They were told that it was for evidence.

If just ONE white western (of which I am one) civilian was killed in Libya, we would not say that is okay because westerners are helping the rebels.

I have told you where I get my facts from. Where is your proof Fraser? And please dont tell me from the media. I hope you are savvy than that.

Thu, 2011-10-20 18:13 — Luddite (not verified)

Lady J: Wasn't Gaddafi a socialist revolutionary much loved by the political-left?

Thu, 2011-10-20 18:42 — Luddite (not verified)

Freeman: Why are you so up-set Gaddafi financed every terrorist grouping form the IRA to the west-side boys.

Thu, 2011-10-20 18:46 — Benedict (not verified)

Al-Jazeera footage here: http://youtu.be/NVIkck02qao

Thu, 2011-10-20 18:52 — Lady J (not verified)

Hi Luditte. Great to hear from you.

Before I answer your question, enlighten me; are you a disillusioned socialist, as you professed before or are you really a Tori in disguise?

Thu, 2011-10-20 18:54 — Lady J (not verified)

CORRECTION; Tory.

Sun, 2011-10-23 10:41 — Ms Makhathini

saiah 3:1-10

New International Version (NIV)

Isaiah 3

Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah

1 See now, the Lord,
   the LORD Almighty,
is about to take
   both supply and support:
all supplies of food and all supplies of water,
2 the hero and the warrior,
the judge and the prophet,
   the diviner and the elder,
3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank,
   the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.

4 “I will make mere youths their officials;
children will rule over them.”

5 People will oppress each other—
man against man, neighbor against neighbor.
The young will rise up against the old,
the nobody against the honored.

6 A man will seize one of his brothers
   in his father’s house, and say,
“You have a cloak, you be our leader;
   take charge of this heap of ruins!”
7 But in that day he will cry out,
   “I have no remedy.
I have no food or clothing in my house;
   do not make me the leader of the people.”

8 Jerusalem staggers,
   Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the LORD,
   defying his glorious presence.
9 The look on their faces testifies against them;
   they parade their sin like Sodom;
   they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
   They have brought disaster upon themselves.

10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them,
for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.