Libyans rejoice over Gaddafi’s death

Hundreds of Libyans are celebrating across the country the death of former long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was shot dead by Libyan fighters in his northern hometown of Sirte.

Residents in the eastern city of Misratah took to the streets in their vehicles on Thursday to rejoice over the matter.

The ruling National Transitional Council (NTC)’s second-in-command, Mahmud Jibril, said earlier that a vehicle transferring Gaddafi from his hideout “was caught in crossfire between Gaddafi fighters and the revolutionaries, and he was shot in the head.”

NTC fighters also gathered at Martyrs’ Square in the capital Tripoli to hold celebrations.

The 69-year-old was caught in a sewage pipe on the outskirts of Sirte. He is said to have been captured, while riding in a motorcade attempting to flee the city, which is located 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of the capital.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Libyans to come together and shape the country’s future through national unity and reconciliation.

Ruler since 1969, Gaddafi started to lose his grip on power in February with the outbreak of a popular revolution against his despotic regime.

The revolution witnessed intense fighting between the government troops and opposition fighters.

In August, the fighters wrested command of Tripoli and Gaddafi’s Bab al-Aziziyah compound in the capital.

Gaddafi is the first dictator to be killed in the wave of the popular uprisings and revolutions, which started to sweep the North Africa and Middle East in the last days of 2010.