The National Transition Council, in a report confirmed by the United
States, said Gadhafi, 69, was found and killed in Sirte, the last
stronghold of the ousted ruler. Officials said Gadhafi was trying to escape
Sirte in a convoy when it came under attack by interim government forces.
Earlier, NTC said Gadhafi, dressed in a military uniform, had been shot
in both legs and evacuated by ambulance. Officials said Gadhafi's
80-vehicle convoy
was struck by a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle sent by the United States.
Jibril said a forensic test showed that Gadhafi was killed by a bullet
to his head. The interim prime minister said Gadhafi was found hiding in a
sewer, brought to a car and later struck in crossfire.
"The forensic doctor could not tell if it [the bullet] came from the
revolutionaries or from Gadhafi's forces," Jibril said.
In September, Gadhafi and his forces were driven out of Tripoli and
fled to Sirte and Bani Walid. After several rounds of fierce fighting, both
towns fell to NTC over the last week. On Oct. 21, NATO was scheduled to
convene to decide on whether to end the air campaign over Libya.
Gadhafi, who left behind an unprotected arsenal of chemical weapons
agents and 20,000 missiles, rejected numerous offers by the rebels and NATO
to flee Libya. Saying he would rather die than face exile, Gadhafi was said
to have taken charge of about 1,000 fighters as his sons either escaped or
were captured.
NTC said at least one son of Gadhafi was killed and another was injured
and captured. Mutassim Gadhafi, responsible for the security services, was
reported dead and Seif Al Islam was reported to have been injured and taken
to a hospital.