The four-decade rule of Moammar Gadhafi over Libya finally came to an end Thursday after he was dragged from his hiding place in a drain in Sirte and killed.
Inside the hole, the ousted dictator was found dressed in military style clothing. As the mob of rebel fighters from the National Transitional Council dragged him out of his hideout, Gaddafi pleaded, Don't shoot, don't shoot, according to reports.
It was an official from the NTC who informed Arab news broadcaster Al-Jazeera that the former leader had been captured.
Minutes after he was dragged and humiliated, he was shot in the streets.
A video, captured during the incident, showed his bloodied body being dragged through the streets amid celebrating crowds.
Confirmation of his death triggered reactions from diplomats and leaders across the globe.
From the White House Rose Garden, U.S. President Barack Obama said, [This] is a momentous day in the history of Libya. The dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted. And with this enormous promise, the Libyan people now have a great responsibility -- to build an inclusive and tolerant and democratic Libya that stands as the ultimate rebuke to Gadhafi's dictatorship. We look forward to the announcement of the country's liberation, the quick formation of an interim government, and a stable transition to Libya's first free and fair elections.
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking outside 10 Downing Street in London, said Gadhafi's death held out the promise of a better future for the people he ruled.
Take a look at the final minutes of Moammar Gadhafi before he was shot:
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Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, covered in blood, is pulled from a truck by NTC fighters in Sirte in this still image taken from video footage Oct. 20, 2011. Gadhafi was killed on Thursday as Libya's new leaders declared they had overrun the last bastion of his long rule, sparking wild celebrations that eight months of war may finally be over.Reuters.Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, covered in blood, is pulled from a truck by NTC fighters in Sirte in this still image taken from video footage Oct. 20, 2011. Gadhafi was killed on Thursday as Libya's new leaders declared they had overrun the last bastion of his long rule, sparking wild celebrations that eight months of war may finally be over.Reuters.Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, covered in blood, is pulled from a truck by NTC fighters in Sirte in this still image taken from video footage Oct. 20, 2011. Gadhafi was killed on Thursday as Libya's new leaders declared they had overrun the last bastion of his long rule, sparking wild celebrations that eight months of war may finally be over.Reuters.Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, covered in blood, is pulled from a truck by NTC fighters in Sirte in this still image taken from video footage Oct. 20, 2011. Gadhafi was killed on Thursday as Libya's new leaders declared they had overrun the last bastion of his long rule, sparking wild celebrations that eight months of war may finally be over. Reuters.Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, covered in blood, is pulled from a truck by NTC fighters in Sirte in this still image taken from video footage Oct. 20, 2011. Gadhafi was killed on Thursday as Libya's new leaders declared they had overrun the last bastion of his long rule, sparking wild celebrations that eight months of war may finally be over. Reuters.Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, covered in blood, is pulled from a truck by NTC fighters in Sirte in this still image taken from video footage Oct. 20, 2011. Gadhafi was killed on Thursday as Libya's new leaders declared they had overrun the last bastion of his long rule, sparking wild celebrations that eight months of war may finally be over. Reuters.Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, covered in blood, is held on the ground by National Transitional Council fighters in Sirte in this still image taken from video footage on Oct. 20. Gadhafi was killed Thursday as Libya's new leaders declared they had overrun the last bastion of his long rule, sparking wild celebrations in the hope eight months of war may finally be over.Reuters.An anti-Gadhafi fighter points at the drain where Moammar Gadhafi was hiding before he was captured in Sirte Oct. 20, 2011. Gadhafi was killed on Thursday as Libya's new leaders declared they had overrun the last bastion of his long rule, sparking wild celebrations that eight months of war may finally be over. Details of the death near Sirte of the fallen strongman were hazy but it was announced by several officials of the National Transitional Council (NTC) and backed up by a photograph of a bloodied face ringed by familiar, Gaddafi-style curly hair.Reuters.Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, covered in blood, is pulled from a truck by NTC fighters in Sirte in this still image taken from video footage Oct. 20, 2011. Gadhafi was killed on Thursday as Libya's new leaders declared they had overrun the last bastion of his long rule, sparking wild celebrations that eight months of war may finally be over.Reuters.
