<p>Gaddafi, 69, begged for mercy as the fighters advanced menacingly. "Don't shoot," cried Gaddafi who cowered in a hole in which he was hiding.<br /><br />Television channels flashed images of a bloodied Gaddafi who was leaning against a fighter. Gaddafi died of his wounds Thursday, a National Transitional Council (NTC) field commander told Xinhua.<br /><br />The commander, Mohemmed Buras Ali Al-Maknee, had earlier said that a group of fighters from the western Libyan city of Misrata captured Gaddafi, who had been severely injured. <br /><br />He had been injured in both his legs during the fierce battle at Sirte. Al-Jazeera TV quoted Abdel Hakim Belhaj, NTC's military chief in Tripoli, as confirming that Gaddafi had been killed.<br /><br />As soon as the news of his capture spread, people were overjoyed. Ecstatic Libyans honked horns and celebrated on the streets.<br /><br />But his death has not yet been officially announced by the NTC high-ups. The US too said that it was unable to confirm about Gaddafi's death.<br /><br />US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told Xinhua that Washington "can not confirm at this time" the capture or death of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. <br /><br />The fall of Sirte and Gaddafi's death brought an end to a tumultuous period in Libya which witnessed an uprising that was inspired by the Egyptian revolt. Gaddafi had come to power Sep 1, 1969. The "Free Officers Movement", a small group of military officers led by Gaddafi, staged a bloodless coup that toppled King Idris and established the Libyan Arab Republic.<br /><br />Gaddafi, whose forces were driven out of capital Tripoli by the now ruling NTC Aug 23, had been leading a strong resistance in the past months.<br /><br />On June 27, the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi on charges of crimes against humanity. On Sep 9, the international police agency Interpol issued Red Notice for the three.</p>
<p>Gaddafi, 69, begged for mercy as the fighters advanced menacingly. "Don't shoot," cried Gaddafi who cowered in a hole in which he was hiding.<br /><br />Television channels flashed images of a bloodied Gaddafi who was leaning against a fighter. Gaddafi died of his wounds Thursday, a National Transitional Council (NTC) field commander told Xinhua.<br /><br />The commander, Mohemmed Buras Ali Al-Maknee, had earlier said that a group of fighters from the western Libyan city of Misrata captured Gaddafi, who had been severely injured. <br /><br />He had been injured in both his legs during the fierce battle at Sirte. Al-Jazeera TV quoted Abdel Hakim Belhaj, NTC's military chief in Tripoli, as confirming that Gaddafi had been killed.<br /><br />As soon as the news of his capture spread, people were overjoyed. Ecstatic Libyans honked horns and celebrated on the streets.<br /><br />But his death has not yet been officially announced by the NTC high-ups. The US too said that it was unable to confirm about Gaddafi's death.<br /><br />US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told Xinhua that Washington "can not confirm at this time" the capture or death of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. <br /><br />The fall of Sirte and Gaddafi's death brought an end to a tumultuous period in Libya which witnessed an uprising that was inspired by the Egyptian revolt. Gaddafi had come to power Sep 1, 1969. The "Free Officers Movement", a small group of military officers led by Gaddafi, staged a bloodless coup that toppled King Idris and established the Libyan Arab Republic.<br /><br />Gaddafi, whose forces were driven out of capital Tripoli by the now ruling NTC Aug 23, had been leading a strong resistance in the past months.<br /><br />On June 27, the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi on charges of crimes against humanity. On Sep 9, the international police agency Interpol issued Red Notice for the three.</p>