Conflicting reports surfaced Thursday that
deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is
dead or has been captured. Deafening
celebrations erupted in Tripoli, but none of
the reports could be independently verified.
Gadhafi's death was reported by National
Transitional Council television station Al-
Ahrar. It did not cite a source.
Gadhafi's capture was also reported by
Libyan television, citing the Misrata Military
Council.
A National Transitional Council military
spokesman told CNN that reports of
Gadhafi's capture are only rumors.
A "big fish" has been captured in Libya, but
Libyan Information Minister Mahmoud
Shammam couldn't say with certainty
whether it was Gadhafi.
Abdurahman Bousin, the NTC spokesman,
added that it's doubtful that Gadhafi was
even in or around his hometown of Sirte.
In another major development,
revolutionary fighters said they wrested
control of the coastal city Thursday.
Without photographic proof of Gadhafi's
capture, it was unclear whether Thursday
would turn out to be the biggest day in
recent Libyan history. Statements made by
representatives of Libya's new leadership in
the past have not always turned out to be
true.
Still, Libyans erupted in joy. Horns blared and
celebratory gunfire burst into the air in
Tripoli.
Gadhafi ruled Libya with an iron fist for 42
years. The mercurial leader came to power
in a bloodless coup against King Idris in
1969, when he was just an army captain.