Gaddafi dies of wounds after capture

Deposed Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi has died of injuries he sustained during his capture by the National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters in the northern City of Sirte.

“He was also hit in his head. There was a lot of firing against his group and he died, ” Reuters quoted an unidentified senior NTC military official as saying on Thursday.

There was no independent confirmation of his remarks.

NTC field commander Mohamed Buras Ali Al-Maknee had earlier announced that a group of fighters from the western Libyan city of Misrata captured Gaddafi in Sirte, where he was found injured in both legs.

He added that Gaddafi was taken away by a military helicopter to an unknown location.

The fugitive Libyan strongman is said to have been captured while driving in a convoy of automobiles attempting to flee Sirte, located 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of the capital Tripoli.

The news of Gaddafi’s capture came shortly following an announcement by revolutionary forces that they were in full control of Sirte after finally overcoming resistance by forces loyal to Libya’s Gaddafi.

Anti-Gaddafi troops were shown in television footage celebrating the fall of Sirte by firing shots in the air as others tore up Gaddafi portraits.

NTC official Abdel Majid has also stated that commander of Gaddafi’s armed forces Abu Bakr Younus Jabr had been killed as well during the capture of Libya’s fugitive leader.

Meanwhile, The US State Department announced on Thursday that it could not confirm whether Gaddafi was wounded in both legs or captured.

“We’ve seen the media reports but can’t confirm them,” State Department spokeswoman Beth Gosselin said.