LIBYA: Libya's Col Gaddafi killed (Updates)

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Reporters: Olivia Lang, Nigel Pankhurst, Julian Joyce and Yaroslav Lukov

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1. 1816:
   Amnesty International calls for an independent inquiry into the circumstances of the death of Col Gaddafi. Footage broadcast by Arab satellite television stations appears to show he was captured alive.
2.  
   

   British Libyan Ahmed Sanalla in Benghazi
   tweets: Thursday 20th October a day that will live forever in #Libyan history....#Libya #Feb17 #Gaddafi
3. 1815:
   Abdullah walking towards Green Square in Tripoli tells BBC World Have Your Say: "There are lots of people, lots of noise. Everyone is happy. It's a fantastic moment."
4. 1814:
   German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that "the path is now finally clear for a fresh political start, in peace (in Libya)", according to Reuters. But she stresses that Libya should now carry out political reforms to "ensure the achievements of the Arab Spring cannot be undone".
5. 1814:
   Outside the Libyan embassy in London, Ramadan Muttawa, 46, draped in the Libyan flag, says: "It's all over. We got rid of him. Hold your head up high. Libya is free. Forty-two years of tyranny is over."
6. 1814:
   "Everyone should be better off without Col Gaddafi," writes the Guardian's Middle East editor Ian Black.
7.  
   

   @Feb17voices
   tweets: LPC #Misrata: Growing number of as-yet unconfirmed reports of the capture of #Gaddafi's son Saif are circulating in the city #Libya
8. 1803:
   Reacting to the news of Col Gaddafi's death, US Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney says: "This was a tyrant who has been killing his own people, and, of course, is responsible for the lives of American citizens lost in the Lockerbie attack. And I think people across the world recognise that the world is a better place without Muammar Gaddafi."
9. 1758:
   The Pentagon has said it is not clear if Col Gaddafi was part of a convoy bombed by Nato aircraft on Thursday morning. "We know there was an air strike on a small convoy of vehicles that were deemed to be and in the act of threatening Libyan civilians" outside of Sirte, spokesman Capt John Kirby told reporters. "But there's no indication or identification of the people that were in that convoy," Mr Kirby said.
10.  
    

    Al Arabiya English
    tweets: The reports about the death of Saif al-Islam Qaddafi has been confirmed: Al Arabiya correspondent
11. 1757:
    UK Foreign Secretary William Hague says the Nato countries never doubted that military action was the right thing for Libya: "We knew we had to act to save civilian life - that's what we did and I think we felt vindicated all along, because Libya does now have the opportunity to become a free and democratic country, on far better terms with its neighbours and the rest of the world than was ever the case under Col Gaddafi."
12.  
    

    @Libyanproud
    tweets: People distributing candy, chocolate, water, and even flowers #Tripoli
13. 1757:
    The NTC's Qatar-based Libya TV, also known as Libya al-Ahrar, has reported that Col Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam has been killed. The report has not been confirmed. Earlier reports suggested his convoy had been surrounded by NTC fighters in southern Libya.
14.  
    

    Al Arabiya English
    tweets: NTC fighter: "We did not know #Gadhafi was there until he shot at us first" - Al Arabiya
15. 1753:
    More on the images carried by al-Jazeera, which appear to show Col Gaddafi before he died. The former Libyan leader was shown with a bloody face, being manhandled by a group of NTC fighters. He was seen struggling at one point and being pushed against a car and struck on the head with a pistol, Reuters reports. Al-Jazeera said the pictures were aired by a Libyan TV channel.
16.  
    

    @Weddady in Massachusetts, US
    tweets: "Gaddafi didn't get a trial": tell that to Mansour Al-Kikhiya or Fathi Al-Jahmi or Hamed Al-Shuwehdi's families #Libya #Justice
17.  
    

    Faisal Saeed Al-Mutar in Iraq
    emails: Another Arab dictatorship has fallen. Libyan people need to realise that there is much work ahead of them. They must keep themselves united and not fall into the trap of sectarianism as the Iraqis did. Long live democracy!
18. Juan Sebastian Pantoja
    writing on the BBC Mundo facebook page, says: Libyan people have waited a long time for Gaddafi's death. Today it's the beginning of democracy for them. They knew that with Gaddafi, peace in Lybia would never be assured. Now that he is not an obstacle any more they will move forward with the development of their country.
19. Broadcaster Al Jazeera
    tweets: Al Jazeera is receiving unconfirmed reports that Saif al-Islam, Muammar #Gaddafi's son, has been arrested http://aje.me
20. 1742:
    The African Union says it has lifted its suspension of Libya's membership, reports Reuters. The new Libyan government will take the seat, the AU said.
21. 1741:
    

    See images of Col Gaddafi in our picture gallery, including one of him in September 1969 just a few weeks after his coup d'etat ousted King Idris. Here is the former Libyan leader during the 1980s.
22. 1737:
    "There is a very, very strong feeling that Gaddafi was a man who had done evil to his country," says Oliver Miles, a former British ambassador to Libya. "It is a relief" that Col Gaddafi is dead he tells BBC World Service, but "our role has been played - it's now up to the Libyans to make the best of the new situation," he says.
23. 1736:
    Our monitoring staff at Caversham report that Al-Jazeera TV is showing footage of Gaddafi being taken away alive by Libyan fighters. The screen caption reads: "Urgent footage of Gaddafi before his killing".
24. 1732:
    The Vatican's number two, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said he was praying for "peace in the country and democracy" in Libya. "We have to work for the Libyan people and so that everybody will cooperate towards the reconstruction" of the war-torn country, he said.
25. 1732:
    UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has warned that Col Gaddafi's death is "only the end of the beginning" and said Libyans must refrain from acts of retribution. He said: "Now is the time for all Libyans to come together... Combatants on all sides must lay down their arms in peace. This is the time for healing and rebuilding, for generosity of spirit, not for revenge."
26. 1731:
    Libyan nationals embrace in Malta after hearing that Col Gaddafi has been killed in Sirte.
    

    
27.  
    

    Abdul Mounem in Libya
    emails to the BBC's Arabic service: The death of Gaddafi is considered the real end of dictatorships, not only in Libya but in the rest of the world.
28. 1727:
    DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson says death of Col Gaddafi paves the way for the settlement of legal claims by IRA victims in Northern Ireland. Mr Donaldson says Semtex from Libya was used in attacks such as the Warrington bombing in 1993.
29. 1720:
    Mr Sarkozy said now was the time for "reconciliation in unity and freedom", according to Reuters news agency.
30. 1719:
    Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has welcomed events as the start of the democratic process in Libya. "The liberation of Sirte must signal...the start of a process agreed by the NTC to establish a democratic system in which all groups in the country have their place and where fundamental freedoms are guaranteed," Mr Sarkozy said in a statement.
31. 1716:
    More reaction from Germany's foreign minister Guido Westerwelle. "After decades of dictatorship, we hope the people of Libya can open a new, peaceful and democratic chapter for their country," he said in a statement.
32.  
    

    @ChangeinLibya in Tripoli, Libya:
    tweets: Saying that there are celebrations in every single inch of Tripoli and Libya is an understatement. You have to see it. #Libya #Tripoli
33. 1704: Mohamed, a business man in Tripoli, Libya,
    tells the BBC: "Our present environment will be improved. We have been waiting for this news. Libya will become a very safe place. The business community here will be very happy, we will be able to resume our businesses. We are thankful to the US, to France and to David Cameron for their help."
34. 1704:
    The details surrounding Col Gaddafi's death remain unclear. Here, we piece together what we know of Gaddafi's final hours in Sirte.
35. 1703:
    A man waves a Libyan flag from his car near the Libyan embassy in London as people gather to celebrate the death of Col Gaddafi.
    

    
36.  
    

    Mohammed Ali Abdallah of the National Front for the Salvation of Libya
    tweets this unconfirmed report: The young man who killed Gaddafi is 18 Yr old Ahmed Shaibani, a new hero is born #Feb17 #Libya #GameOver
37. 1702:
    German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle says he hopes for a new era of peace and democracy in Libya, AFP reports.
38. 1655:
    NTC official Abdel Majid Mlegta has told Reuters that Col Gaddafi's son Mutassim, who died during his father's capture, was killed by NTC forces. "He was trying to fight back and he was resisting them," he said.
39. 1655:
    Here you can see footage of NTC Vice Chairman Abdel Hafiz Ghoga announcing Col Gaddafi's death.
40. 1648:
    An update of events so far today: The Libyan prime minister, Mahmoud Jibril, has announced the country's former leader Col Muammar Gaddafi is dead, confirming earlier reports. The transitional authorities said he had been wounded in the battle for his home town of Sirte, where Nato carried out an airstrike on Thursday morning. There have been wild celebrations on the streets of Sirte and in the capital, Tripoli. See here for Col Gaddafi's obituary.
41. 1641:
    First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond said the Lockerbie bombing of 1988 remains "an open case" and that Scotland would pursue any leads brought about by recent events in Libya.
42.  
    

    Moez in Tripoli, Libya
    tweets: In today's #Libya, death of #Gaddafi largely symbolic more than anything and will help people to close many chapters/move on #feb17
43. 1638:
    British opposition leader Ed Miliband says the death of Col Gaddafi "marks the end of a tragic period in Libyan history marked by brutality and repression" and said he was proud of the role of British forces in the "cause".
44. 
    

    1634: Norman Smith Chief political correspondent, BBC News Channel
    Interesting, I thought, the tone of the prime minister's statement. No sense of triumphalism and certainly no claims of a victory. I imagine, privately, David Cameron must surely feel vindicated because the Libyan enterprise was a big political risk. There were plenty at the time warning him of the potential of getting sucked into an Iraq-style quagmire.
45. 1627:
    Mr Ban says Col Gaddafi's death marks a "historic transition for Libya".
46. 1625:
    UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon says people should recognise that "this is only the end of the beginning", adding: "Now is the time for all Libyans to come together". He says this is "a time for healing and rebuilding" and "not for revenge".
47. 1625:
    Mr Jibril is also quoted as requesting that Algeria hand over the Gaddafi family members who have taken refuge there. Col Gaddafi's wife and three of his children - Aisha, Muhammad and Hannibal - fled to Algeria in August.
48. 1621:
    Mohammed, a resident of Misrata, claims he has been to the mosque in his city to which Col Gaddafi's body has been taken. Speaking to a producer for BBC World Have Your Say, he says: "It's definitely him, it's his hair, his face, I would know it anywhere - all Libyan would."
49. 1618:
    PM Jibril says NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil will declare the liberation of Libya later on Thursday, or on Friday at the latest - Reuters.
50. 1618:
    Here's a reminder of the Gaddafi family tree, and the roles and relationships of the former Libyan leader's closest family.
51. 1616:
    French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has hailed the "end of 42 years of tyranny" in Libya.
52. 1614:
    There are now reports that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, said to be fleeing Sirte in a convoy, has been encircled and is under attack.
53.  
    

    Malik L in Libya
    tweets: I will never forget this day nor the city I arrived in yesterday. Sitting in #Derna near Sahaba Mosque, receiving the news that #gaddafi is dead
54. 1607:
    Libyans have expressed some surprise that Col Gaddafi was found in Sirte. But they might be more surprised by a report on NTC TV that Col Gaddafi's former security chief Mansour Daw was among those captured. Daw was widely reported last month to have fled to Niger.
55. 1606:
    Reuters is now reporting that Mutassim Gaddafi, the son who was reported all along to have remained in Sirte, has been killed, according to an NTC military commander.
56. 1602:
    "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," says David Cameron, the UK's prime minister.
57. Libyan refugees in Tunisia celebrate outside their embassy in Tunis after hearing reports of Col Gaddafi's death.
    

    
58. 1557:
    David Cameron says he is proud of the role the UK played in bringing about the end of Col Gaddafi's regime.
59. 1556:
    PM Jibril says he has unconfirmed reports that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is in a convoy fleeing Sirte - that sounds different to earlier speculation that Saif al-Islam was roaming the desert.
60. 1556:
    Prime Minister David Cameron says today is a day to "remember all of Col Gaddafi's victims". He adds that the Libyan people now have a better chance of building a "strong and democratic future".
    

    
61. 1556: Breaking News
    Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril has told a news conference Col Gaddafi is dead, it is confirmed.
62. 1548:
    A source has told the BBC that pro-Gaddafi forces had been surrounded in a handful of buildings in the North West of Sirte. A convoy of vehicles may have been trying to break out when Nato warplanes attacked. But the BBC's Jonathan Beale says it's still not known whether there is a direct link between the strike by Nato warplanes and the death of Colonel Gaddafi - as reported on the ground.
63. Mahmud Nacua, Libya's ambassador to the UK, says the Libyans are "looking forward to a promising future".
    

    
64. 1544:
    Reuters is reporting that one of its contacts has seen a video of Col Gaddafi's son Mutassim lying on a bed and covered in blood, but alive.
65. 1543:
    The Daily Beast website has an interview with relatives of those who died in the Lockerbie bombing. Brian Flynn, who lost his brother, says the reports of Col Gaddafi's death suggest "the long trail to justice is coming to an end".
66. 1542:
    Libyan ambassador to the UK, speaking in London, says that Libyan freedom fighters have finally succeeded "in drawing the curtains on Gaddafi's crimes... Today Libya's future begins."
67. 1540:
    It's worth recalling that Misrata suffered a brutal siege at the hands of pro-Gaddafi fighters earlier this year. Forces from the coastal city have subsequently played a central role in the advance on Tripoli and the battle for Sirte.
68. 1535:
    Al-Jazeera is reporting that Col Gaddafi's body has been placed in a mosque in Misrata.
69. 1532:
    AP quotes Mr Jibril as saying: "We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Muammar Gaddafi has been killed."
70. 1531: Breaking News
    Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril tells a news conference in Tripoli that Col Gaddafi has been killed - Associated Press.
71. 1529:
    A quick recap of today's dramatic events for those just joining us: Officials from Libya's transitional authorities say that Col Muammar Gaddafi has been killed and several of his entourage have died or been captured. The news came moments after Libya's transitional fighters said they had finally taken control of the Gaddafi stronghold of Sirte - and nearly two months after the fall of Tripoli.
72. 1523:
    In an update bearing an "urgent" caption, pro-NTC Libya TV reports that Col Gaddafi's body has arrived in Misrata.
73. Here's a grab of that image from Al-Jazeera purporting to show Col Gaddafi's body being dragged along the street.
    

    
74. 1516:
    The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse says he has spoken to the man who claims to have captured Col Gaddafi. The man told our correspondent the former Libyan leader was hiding in a hole in the centre of Sirte and said "don't shoot".
75. 1515:
    "Stores are open and they are giving out things for free," says 19-year-old student Hadil, in Tripoli, who was in a lecture when she heard reports of Col Gaddafi's capture. She tells the BBC World Service: "God will punish him. We have seen 42 years of hell, so it's all uphill from here."
76. 1514:
    The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Sirte says he's getting the sense of huge surprise that Col Gaddafi was apparently found there - many thought he was elsewhere in Libya or had fled to another country.
77. 1514: Moez, in Tripoli, Libya,
    tells the BBC: "I am totally overwhelmed. There are grown men in my office who are crying at this news. This is very symbolic. Gaddafi was the face and image of Libya for 40 years. Today marks the start of a new Libya."
78. Libyans have been celebrating in Martyrs' Square, Tripoli, after hearing reports that Col Gaddafi - who ruled the country for 42 years - was killed in Sirte.
    

    
79. 1504:
    There have been fears over reprisals following about seven months of violence in Libya. Two EU leaders - Herman van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso - are now stressing the importance of a "broad based reconciliation process".
80. 1459:
    Al-Jazeera has shown what it says is an exclusive picture of Col Gaddafi's body being dragged along the ground.
81. 1456:
    More from NTC vice-chairman Abdul Hafiz Ghoga - he's quoted as saying that the liberation of all of Libya will be announced within hours.
82. 1456:
    Here is a video interview with a man who claims he saw Col Gaddafi being shot in abdomen.
83. A gold-plated gun, said to have been owned by the former Libyan leader, has been brandished by those who say he has been captured.
    

    
84. 1448:
    NTC vice-chairman Abdul Hafiz Ghoga confirms that Col Gaddafi is dead - Reuters.
85. 1445:
    Konstantin Kosachev, who heads the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee, tells the Interfax news agency the capture of Col Gaddafi, if proved to be true, "will not mark a turning point in the Libyan conflict". He says there is no reason to think the situation in Libya will "normalise" if the rumours are confirmed.
86. 1444:
    An NTC official tells Al-Jazeera that Col Gaddafi's most prominent son, Saif al-Islam, is still believed to be at large in Libya's desert.
87. An anti-Gaddafi fighter burns a Libyan flag in Sirte as the town falls from the dictator's control.
    

    
88. 1437:
    "More and more officials here are saying he has been killed," says the BBC's Caroline Hawley in Tripoli.
89. 1437:
    BBC chief political correspondent Norman Smith says Downing Street is awaiting confirmation about the precise situation regarding Col Gaddafi before making any comment. Our correspondent says it will be a "significant moment" for Prime Minister David Cameron if reports of Col Gaddafi's capture are true because involvement in Libya was "a huge call for him".
90. 1431:
    The EU has hailed the "end of an era of despotism", reports AFP.
91. 1431:
    AFP is reporting that Gaddafi's son Mutassim was found dead in Sirte.
92. Here, a NTC fighter looks through a large concrete pipe where Col Gaddafi was allegedly captured, according to reports from the AFP news agency.
    

    
93.  
    

    1429: Alan Fisher Al Jazeera correspondent
    tweets: Aljazeera's Tony Birtley says he has seen mobile phone footage which shows #Gaddafi was alive when he was captured
94. 1429:
    Meanwhile, Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam is believed to still be at large in the southern Libya desert, an NTC member has told al-Jazeera.
95.  
    

    Al Arabiya English
    tweets: Al Arabiya has been granted permission to photograph Muammar #Gaddafi's body. #Gadhafi
96. Jonny Hallam, BBC producer in Tripoli
    tweets: Iman from our local mosque in #Tripoli is exclaiming 'praise and thanks to god' on a very loud speaker. #Feb17
97. 1415:
    Pro-NTC Libya TV continues to report that Col Gaddafi has been killed, adding that the ex-Libyan leader's son Mutassim, as well as security chief Mansour Daw and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi have been captured and transferred to Misrata on an air ambulance.
98. 1414:
    BBC political correspondent Norman Smith reports that UK government sources say they are expecting confirmation "soon" from Abdul Jalil over capture of Gaddafi.
99. 1414:
    "Our people in Sirte saw the body... Mustafa Abdul-Jalil will confirm it soon," Mahmoud Shammam told The Associated Press. "Revolutionaries say Gaddafi was in a convoy and that they attacked the convoy."
100.  
     

     Feb 17 Voices
     tweets: LPC #Sirte: body of #Gaddafi will be examined by doctor in #Misrata before cause of death will be announced. [Seeking confirmation] (LPC is short for Live Phone Call)
101. 1412:
     More reports are coming in saying Col Gaddafi has died. Libya's Information Minister Mahmoud Shammam said he has confirmed that Col Gaddafi was dead from fighters who said they saw the body. He said he expects the prime minister to confirm the death soon, noting that past reports emerged "before making 100% confirmation."
102. 1411:
     Nick Clegg, the UK's deputy prime minister, tells the BBC that if reports of Col Gaddafi's capture are true it represents "a very significant further step for peace and freedom in the whole region", adding that it could mean "a new beginning for Libya".
103. 1407:
     Abdullah Razad, who represents Tripoli in the NTC, told the corporation's Russian Service: "I got confirmation of his death a couple of minutes ago. This is it. What other confirmation do you need?"
104. Gaddafi loyalists were taken prisoner by NTC fighters from the centre of Sirte.
     

     
105. 1407:
     A summary of events so far: Libya's transitional authorities say they have captured Col Muammer Gaddafi, the country's former leader - although the arrest has not been officially confirmed. An NTC fighter told the BBC he found Col Gaddafi hiding in a hole in Sirte and the former leader begged him not to shoot. Some reports say Col Gaddafi has been wounded, others that he has been killed. The news came after NTC forces said they had won control of Sirte, Col Gaddafi's hometown. Libya's NTC say they will hold a press conference shortly.
106. 1406:
     Mid-ranking NTC officials are telling various BBC outlets that they are confident the rumours of Col Gaddafi's death are true. Speaking to the BBC News Channel, Abdullah Kenshill - the NTC's chief negotiator - says the former Libyan leader was killed by NTC forces and Nato wasn't involved. "It's Libyan people and Libyan forces who had this honour," he says.
107. 1405:
     Libya's transitional authorities say Col Gaddafi has died - AFP reports. A similar report was carried earlier on Reuters (see 1256). However this has not been confirmed.
108. 1356:
     Nato has not yet confirmed Col Gaddafi's arrest.
109. 1356:
     The UK's Ministry of Defence said it was not known if Col Gaddafi had been in the convoy. "It was targeted on the basis that this was the last of the pro-Gaddafi forces fleeing Sirte," a spokesman said. RAF fighters were not involved in the attack, although RAF reconnaissance aircraft were in the area.
110. 1355:
     Nato aircraft on Thursday morning struck two pro-Gaddafi military vehicles in the vicinity of Sirte, a spokesman said. "At approximately 08:30 local time (GMT+2) today, Nato aircraft struck two pro-Gaddafi forces military vehicles which were part of a larger group manoeuvring in the vicinity of Sirte," Nato spokesman Colonel Roland Lavoie said in a statement.
111. 1351:
     If you believe pictures speak louder than words, have look at our slideshow depicting anti-Gaddafi forces capturing Sirte.
112. 1347:
     A US State Department official has told the BBC that at this time they cannot confirm media reports of the capture or killing of Muammar Gaddafi.
113. 1347:
     "The city is going completely wild - it is quite deafening," Vivienne Walt, with Time Magazine in Tripoli, tells BBC World Service.
114. 1346:
     CNN are also reporting the unsubstantiated rumours of Col Gaddafi's capture but stressing that the claims remain unconfirmed.
     But Al Jazeera has gone further, with a report headlined: Muammar Gaddafi killed in gun battle.
115. 1344:
     AFP has obtained a mobile phone image apparently of Col Gadadfi during his arrest. The picture shows a man who bears a strong resemblance to Gaddafi wearing blood-soaked clothing and with blood across his face. However the authenticity of the image has not been verified.
116. An anti-Gaddafi fighter climbs up a lamp post in Sirte to raise the flag of the new Libya.
     

     
117. 1340:
     "I just hope it can be confirmed that he has been captured. It will finally bring justice and peace," Tripoli resident Amani told the BBC. "If the whole of Libya is freed, but Gaddafi is still out there, I don't think we will find that peace we are seeking," she says.
118.  
     

     Ali in Tripoli
     Gaddafi was discredited in Libyan hearts on February 17th. His capture marks the end of his reign over Libya and the start of a new chapter in our country's history.
119. NTC forces have been celebrating after claiming control of Gaddafi's home town of Sirte.
     

     
120.  
     

     Nasr Anaizi 
     tweets: #Tripoli Ships in the harbour are sounding their horns. I am still exerting so much effort to restrain my excitement.
121. 1330:
     "The capital city has erupted in celebration," says the BBC's Caroline Hawley in Tripoli. "The more we do not get denials from the NTC, the more people will believe it is true," she says.
122. 1330:
     "We are waiting for clear confirmation from the NTC in Benghazi," says Mahmoud Shammam, an NTC spokesman in Tripoli. "I can confirm there was a convoy," he told BBC World Service. "But I cannot confirm what the big fish was".
123. 1329:
     Libyan TV is now reporting that Col Gaddafi has been killed and his body is being taken to Misrata.
124. 1326:
     The young fighter was brandishing a golden pistol which he said belonged to Col Gaddafi. He was hoisted up onto the shoulders of his comrades in celebration. "Allah Akbar" ("God is great") they chanted as they unleashed volley after volley of bullets into the air.
125. 1326:
     A fighter in Sirte has told the BBC his account of the reported capture. Mohammed, a young fighter in his 20s, wearing a blue T-shirt and a New York Yankees baseball cap, said he had found the colonel hiding in a hole in the ground in the city of Sirte. He told the BBC that the former Libyan leader said to him simply: "Don't shoot".
126. 1323:
     Read our profile of Muammar Gaddafi if you want to find out more about Libya's maverick former leader, who seized power in 1969 and has been one of the most distinctive figures on the world stage ever since.
127. 1323:
     Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says the war in Libya is "over", according to Ansa news agency.
128. 1323:
     AFP reports that a spokesman for Libya's transitional government, Jalal al-Gallal, and its military spokesman, Abdul-Rahman Busin, say the reports have not yet been confirmed.
129. 1319:
     For a comprehensive catch up on how the conflict in Libya has unfolded, take a look at our Q&A here.
130. 1318:
     Col Gaddafi's condition remains unclear, with conflicting reports over whether he is dead or alive. AFP news agency quotes NTC official, Mohamed Leith, as saying that Col Gaddafi had been captured in Sirte and was "seriously wounded" but still breathing.
131. 1315:
     Here's a little background for you. The forces that toppled Col Muammar Gaddafi have been trying to find the fugitive former leader and take control of a few last strongholds since they stormed the centre of Tripoli on 21 August.
132. 1315:
     But, our correspondent Gabriel Gatehouse adds, there have been many false dawns in the battle for Sirte and in the hunt for Col Gaddafi and his family. Until the shooting stops and the Libyan people get to see pictures of the man who led them for so many decades there will be plenty whose elation today will be dampened by scepticism.
133. 1314:
     The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Sirte says if Col Gaddafi has been arrested and Sirte has indeed fallen then it will mark a turning point for Libyan revolution - the point at which it will be hoped, the fighting ends and the political process begins.
134. 1314:
     A news conference is expected shortly from the NTC, which will hopefully clarify the situation.
135. The news anchor on Libyan state TV announced the capture of Col Gaddafi, saying: "This is not a news item, this happiness we are reporting."
     

     
136. 1311:
     NTC commander Abdul Hakim Al Jalil also said he had seen the body of defence minister Abu Bakr Younis Jaber. He showed Reuters a picture of a body which he said was Jaber.
137. 1308:
     Reports of Col Gaddafi's capture have been greeted with celebrations in Libya.
     

     
138. 1306:
     "Even if Sirte alone has fallen, it will be a huge milestone," says the BBC's Caroline Hawley.
     She is reporting from Libya's capital, Tripoli, which she says has "erupted in celebration".
139. 1304:
     The NTC's Abdul Hakim Al Jalil, commander of the 11th brigade, says Gaddafi spokesman Moussa Ibrahim has also been captured, Reuters is reporting.
140. 1302:
     Meanwhile, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says the deposed Libya leader's capture was great news if confirmed.
141. 1301:
     Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said Libyans should decide Col Gaddafi's fate. "The fate of Gaddafi should be decided by the Libyan people," Mr Medvedev was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies, AFP reports.
142. 1300:
     The situation remains unclear. We are yet to confirm the rumours that Col Gaddafi has been captured or, as the Reuters news agency is reporting, that he is dead.
143.  
     

     Ahmed, in Sirte, Libya:
     emails: It is lies that Gaddafi is not captured, it is just a propaganda
144. 1257:
     Pro-NTC TV is reporting that Col Gaddafi's son, Mutassim, and former interior minister Abdullah al-Senussi were captured with Col Gaddafi - however this has not been confirmed.
145.  
     

     Melanie, in Austria,
     emails: I hope this is true and Libya can finally bring him to justice, bring peace and prosperity to its people and heal the wounds that his dictatorship has most definitely caused in their society.
146. 1256:
     The Reuters news agency says Col Gaddafi had died of wounds sustained during his reported capture in Sirte.
147.  
     

     Eric, in Pretoria, South Africa,
     emails: As NTC is winning the battle, they have to install the government. The people of Libya must govern - not governed by Mr Jalil (leader of NTC). Democracy must govern the Libyans.
148. 1251:
     The rumours come as Libya's transitional government forces took full control of Sirte, which was the last city where forces loyal to Col Gaddafi had remained.
149. 1251:
     NTC official Abdel Majid has told Reuters that Col Gaddafi was found in a convoy which Nato warplanes attacked.
150. 1248:
     Anti-Gaddafi radio Voice of Free Libya (VOFL) - based in Benghazi - has reported the arrest. "The confirmed news is that he has been arrested but it is unknown in which condition," the station said.
151. 1247:
     A Nato official says they are checking reports of the capture, according to Reuters. The official said developments would "take time to confirm".
152. 1245:
     In the UK, neither the Foreign Office nor Ministry of Defence have been able to confirm the reports or make any official comment.
153. 1245:
     A website for pro-Gaddafi TV denies that the former Libyan leader has been captured, according to AFP.
154. 1244:
     The US State Department says it can't yet confirm whether the former Libyan leader has been captured.
155. 1243:
     Col Gaddafi, who was toppled in August after more than four decades in power, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
156. 1241:
     The announcement came after transitional forces claimed control of Sirte, Col Gaddafi's birthplace. There has been no independent confirmation of his capture.
157. 1238:
     An NTC official says Gaddafi's defence minister Abu Bakr Jaber Younes was killed during the capture - Reuters.
158. 1237:
     The BBC's Caroline Hawley, speaking in Tripoli amidst a backdrop of celebratory gunfire, says if these announcements are true, it would be "hugely significant".
159. 1237:
     An anti-Gaddafi fighter says Gaddafi was hiding in a hole in Sirte shouting "don't shoot, don't shoot", according to Reuters.
160. 1236:
     The BBC's Eleanor Montague is in Sirte at the hospital where Gaddafi is believed to have been taken. NTC troops there say he has now been taken on to Misrata.
161. 1233:
     "He's captured. He's wounded in both legs... he's been taken away by ambulance," the senior NTC military official told Reuters by telephone.
162. 1231:
     Rumours are reaching us that Col Muammar Gaddafi has been captured and is wounded. A senior NTC figure told Reuters news agency the ex-Libyan leader had been trying to flee Sirte.
     
     Source: BBC News, 20/10/11