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NTC confirms Gaddafi's death, int'l reactions mixed

Xinhua, October 20, 2011

• The European Union called on the NTC to "pursue a broad-based reconciliation process which reaches out to all Libyans and enables a democratic, peaceful and transparent transition in the country."

  An image captured off a cellular phone camera shows the arrest of Libya's strongman Muammar Gaddafi in Sirte on October 20, 2011. Libya's fallen leader Muammar Gaddafi died of wounds in his capture on Thursday in Sirte, after nearly two months on the run, as fighters of the ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) claimed control of Gaddafi's hometown. [Xinhua]

  In London, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Gaddafi's death held out the promise of a better future for the people he ruled for four decades. ' In Moscow, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he hoped peace would eventually arrive in Libya.
  
  

  "All those who represent this country, various representatives of Libyan tribes, will be able to reach a final agreement on a configuration of power, and Libya will turn into a modern political country," Medvedev said at a joint press conference with Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte in Moscow.

  "Otherwise, all the efforts taken recently are senseless," Medvedev said.

  In New Delhi, visiting French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe hailed Gaddafi's death as the "end of 42 years of tyranny."

  "The announcement of the death of Gaddafi and the collapse of Sirte is the end of a very difficult period for the Libyan people. It's the end of 42 years of tyranny, of a military conflict that has been very difficult for the Libyan people," Juppe said.

  Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota voiced hope Thursday that violence in Libya would end soon following Gaddafi's death.

  "Brazil expects violence in Libya to stop, military operations to cease, and the Libyan people to be able to follow its aspirations and wishes in a spirit of dialogue and national reconstruction," Patriota said.

  The foreign minister made the remarks while accompanying President Dilma Rousseff on a trip to Angola. The president, however, has yet to make an official statement on the issue.

  In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told Xinhua earlier in the day that Washington "can not confirm at this time" the capture or death of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

  Nuland made the remarks through an e-mail to Xinhua.

  In Addis Ababa, the African Union (AU) said it would seek to verify the death of Gaddafi.

  AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramtane Lamamra told reporters "We will check it, there are a number of press dispatches, even the one that stated he may have been killed; so let us find out from the authority incumbent."

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