| Kippreport.com

NTC official reports Gaddafi ‘dead’, NATO still to confirm death

October 20, 2011 2:34 by Precious de Leon

Former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi died of wounds suffered in his capture near his hometown of Sirte on Thursday, a senior NTC military official said, according to a Reuters report.

National Transitional Council (NTC) official Abdel Majid Mlegta told Reuters earlier that Gaddafi was captured and wounded in both legs at dawn on Thursday as he tried to flee in a convoy which NATO warplanes attacked.

“He was also hit in his head,” the official said. “There was a lot of firing against his group and he died.”

There was no independent confirmation of his remarks.

MSNBC released a photo allegedly taken with a mobile phone that appears to show Gaddafi after his capture in Sirte this Thursday. Here’s the photo, published on MSNBC’s website:

Meanwhile, Khaleej Times reports that a pro-Gaddafi television website denied Thursday reports that the strongman had been killed or captured.

And Reuters also reports that NATO is checking reports of the capture of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya but said it could take some time to confirm.

“We are checking and assessing the situation,” a NATO official said. “Clearly these are very significant developments, which will take time to confirm. If it is true, then this is truly a historic day for the people of Libya.”

NTC Leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil is said due to address Libyan nation shortly.

Media reports from CNN and BBC report Gaddafi only as being captured. In addition, Al Jazeera reports that Gaddafi was ‘killed’ in gun battle but furtuher reporting that it is still unclear if the leader is dead or alive.

“He’s captured. He’s wounded in both legs … He’s been taken away by ambulance,” Abdel Majid, a senior NTC military official said.

(Reuters reporting by Samia Nakhoul, David Brunnstrom; Editing by Sebastian Moffettediting, David Stamp for Reuters)

Tags: Arab Spring, Gaddafi, gaddafi dead, gaddafi Libya, Libya, NATO, NTC