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Libya's ex-leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has been killed after an assault on his birthplace of Sirte, officials say.
The circumstances of his death are not yet clear. Video has emerged purporting to show Col Gaddafi being captured alive and bundled on to a truck.
Fighters loyal to the National Transitional Council (NTC) said they found him hiding in a hole, and shot him when he tried to escape.
Col Gaddafi was toppled in August after 42 years in power.
The NTC now plans to officially announce Libya's "liberation" before indicating the next steps towards democratic elections. Golden gun
After a day of conflicting reports and rumours, the NTC's acting prime minister Mahmoud Jibril told a news conference: "We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. Muammar Gaddafi has been killed."
World leaders welcomed the news, urging the NTC to carry through its promise to reform the country.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who had taken a leading role in Nato's intervention, said it was "a day to remember all of Col Gaddafi's victims".
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called it a "historic" moment, but warned: "The road ahead for Libya and its people will be difficult and full of challenges."
Proof of Col Gaddafi's fate came in grainy pieces of video, first circulated among NTC fighters and then broadcast by international news channels.
The first videos showed a bloodied corpse, with some channels picking up footage they said showed the colonel's body being dragged through the streets.
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.
The fighter showed reporters a golden pistol he said he had taken from Col Gaddafi.
Arabic TV channels showed images of troops surrounding two large drainage pipes where the reporters said Col Gaddafi was found.
Later, another video emerged of the colonel being bundled on to the back of a pick-up truck after being captured alive.
NTC fighters said he was shot when he tried to escape.
None of the video footage has been independently verified. 'Saif surrounded'
Libyans gathered in towns and cities across the country to celebrate the reports of the colonel's death.
Groups of young men fired guns in the air, and drivers honked horns in celebration.
His death came after weeks of fierce fighting for Sirte, one of the last remaining pockets of resistance.
Nato, which has been running a bombing campaign in Libya for months, said it had carried out an air strike earlier on Thursday that hit two pro-Gaddafi vehicles near Sirte.
It was unclear whether the strikes were connected with Col Gaddafi's death.
Mr Jibril promised that National Transitional Council (NTC) chief Mustafa Abdul Jalil would give more details of how Col Gaddafi was killed either late on Thursday or during Friday.
He said Mr Abdul Jalil would also officially announce the "liberation of the country", allowing the NTC to begin pushing through democratic reforms that will lead to elections.
"I think it's for the Libyans to realise that it's time to start a new Libya, a united Libya, one people, one future," Mr Jibril said.
He also told the news conference that NTC forces had surrounded a convoy fleeing from Sirte, and that unconfirmed reports said Saif al-Islam was among those in the convoy.
There are also rumours that another of the colonel's sons, Mutassim, was killed in Sirte.
-------------------- "Je pense, donc je suis (I am thinking, therefore I am)." -Rene Descartes
I am just glad he was killed by rebels within his own country and not by NATO forces. I think that makes a huge difference in the eyes of the international community. I guess now we'll see if the NTC is any better.
I will say this. Obama has some balls. He uses the military very effectively. I am waiting to see how this shit in Sudan goes down. He has sent 100 soliders there to aid the people against the LRA. They put some huge bounty on their leader's head. I see us getting into another conflict down there.
I'd rather help get rid of dictators/corrupt leaders than continue propping them up because they "play ball," it's far more effective at changing the status quo.
-------------------- "Je pense, donc je suis (I am thinking, therefore I am)." -Rene Descartes
Quote: KillerPicklez said: I will say this. Obama has some balls. He uses the military very effectively. I am waiting to see how this shit in Sudan goes down. He has sent 100 soliders there to aid the people against the LRA. They put some huge bounty on their leader's head. I see us getting into another conflict down there.
He did not send soldiers, but military advisers. No way we will sacrifice our soldiers for that shit hole of an area. We will simply tell others how to properly sacrifice themselves.
Playing them like puppets is much more American friendly game. Prop up a new Islamofacist dictator in the region so we can come to Israel's aid in the great holy war of 2020.
Anyone see Obama's speech today? He is bringing all the troops from Iraq home by the end of the year. The catch being that about 11,000 private contractors will remain in place. He also announced mission accomplished in Lybia bringing that to a close within 10 days.
Who we going to fuck up next? Iran? You know we cant just have peace
He can't stop the military spending, regardless if we have peace or not. That is what is costing us, but by his own economic policy he can't stop or the economy might get worse. Scary times.
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I'd rather help get rid of dictators/corrupt leaders than continue propping them up because they "play ball," it's far more effective at changing the status quo.
