Streets across Libya erupt in celebration as news breaks

There were celebrations around Libya last night as news broke that Muammar al-Gaddafi had been captured and was finally dead.

In the capital Tripoli, people took to the streets waving flags, cheering and hoisting children on to their shoulders. There were reports of shops and cafes giving away drinks and goods free in the capital city.

Abdullah, who was walking towards Green Square in Tripoli, said: “There are lots of people, lots of noise.

“Everyone is happy. It’s a fantastic moment.”

Libyanproud wrote on Twitter from Tripoli: “People distributing candy, chocolate, water, and even flowers.”

For the people of Libya, the challenge facing the transitional government of rebuilding a broken nation was a worry for another day.

“We are free, that is what matters,” said a 55-year-old named only as Shiha.

“We are not thinking about what or who comes next.”

He added: “The important thing is that the cruel inhuman leader called Gaddafi is gone” and, raising his hands up towards the sky he shouted, “Thank God.”

In other comments on Twitter, libyansrevolt moez عwrote: “Crazy scenes of jubilation on every road in Tripoli right now – unbelievable!”, in a message that was retweeted more than 100 times. And Jonny Hallam tweeted: “Now seeing real fireworks in the air over Tripoli. Not gunfire or bullets but real pretty fireworks.”

In Sirte, Gaddafi’s home town, near where he was ultimately captured and killed, government troops fired shots in the air in celebration.

They held the fighters responsible for his capture aloft and waved a gold-plated gun which had been seized from the former leader.

Even Abdel-Jalil Abdel-Aziz, a doctor who was part of the medical team that examined his body, welcomed the death.

“You can’t imagine my happiness today,” he said. “I can’t describe my happiness. The tyranny is gone. Now the Libyan people can rest.” GARETH ROSE