  As news broke that ex-Libya dictator Moamer Gaddafi had been killed, world leaders hailed what they called the end of "tyranny" in Libya.In this context, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon said the reported death of Gaddafi marked a "historic transition" for Libya. "The road ahead for Libya and its people will be difficult and full of challenges. Now is the time for all Libyans to come together," Ban said at the UN headquarters. "Combatants on all sides must lay down their arms and come together in peace. This is a time for rebuilding and healing."  For his part, British Prime Minister David Cameron said that Gaddafi’s death was an occasion to remember his victims, while hailing it as a chance for a "democratic future" for Libya. "I think today is a day to remember all of Colonel Gaddafi’s victims, from those who died in connection with the Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, to Yvonne Fletcher in a London street, and obviously all the victims of IRA terrorism who died through their use of Libyan Semtex," he said in a statement. "We should also remember the many Libyans who died at the hands of this brutal dictator and his regime," Cameron said. "People in Libya have an even greater chance after this news of building themselves a strong and democratic future."French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe in turn hailed the "end of 42 years of tyranny" in Libya and said France was "proud" to have helped bring freedom to the country. "It's the end of 42 years of tyranny, of a military conflict that has been very difficult for the Libyan people," Juppe told reporters in New Delhi during a trip to the Indian capital. "It's a historic event. It's the beginning of a new period, of a democracy, freedom and the rebuilding of the country and the reconstruction of its economy," he said. "It's up to the Libyan people to decide what its (Libya's) future will be, but France is ready with other countries to support the efforts of the NTC (National Transitional Council) in implementing a road map and in developing the Libyan economy," he added. The death of Libya's Gaddafi "marks the end of an era of despotism," European Union president Herman Van Rompuy said. The news that Gaddafi died in a raid in Sirte means an end also to the "repression from which the Libyan people have suffered for too long," Van Rompuy said in a joint statement with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in turn hailed the fall of Sirte as "the end of the Gaddafi era" and said that "if confirmed" the death of Gaddafi brings closure to a tragic period in the lives of so many Libyans. "Libya is now under the full control of National Transitional Council forces," she said in a statement. "After 10 months of extraordinary sacrifices, the Libyan people can say with pride and confidence that they have shaken off a regime that terrorized and oppressed for more than 40 years." She urged the new leadership to build a democratic future in full respect for human rights, saying that "while the crimes of the past must be addressed, the leadership must also seek a path of national reconciliation." Meanwhile, US Senator John McCain said that the death of Gaddafi marked the end of "the first phase" of Libya's revolution and called for closer ties between Washington and Tripoli. "The death of Moamer Gaddafi marks an end to the first phase of the Libyan revolution. While some final fighting continues, the Libyan people have liberated their country," the Republican lawmaker said in a statement. "Now the Libyan people can focus all of their immense talents on strengthening their national unity, rebuilding their country and economy, proceeding with their democratic transition, and safeguarding the dignity and human rights of all Libyans," said McCain. "The United States, along with our European allies and Arab partners, must now deepen our support for the Libyan people, as they work to make the next phase of their democratic revolution as successful as the fight to free their country," he said. | |||
| |||
Gaddafi reportedly captured, wounded and executed
The news came in this morning that Muammar Gaddafi was captured alive but wounded in both legs. Later, this was corrected and we were told that he also had a head-wound (which was not noticed the first time around?) and that he had been killed.
I guess killing him on the spot was easier than poisoning him in The Hague. Also, killing him as a wounded prisoner is probably less humiliating than being hanged by masked men screaming and making a video of it all.
God knows I was really no admirer of Gaddafi, but I am relieved see that he was spared some of the worst and most grotesque "victor's justice" meted out by the Ziocon Empire.
May God have mercy on his soul.
The Saker
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
No comments:
Post a Comment