Historic turning point for Libya

“The news that the Libyan city of Sirte has now fallen and that former dictator Muammar Gaddafi is dead marks a historic turning point for Libya,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
 
The interim Libyan Prime Minister, Mahmoud Jibril, confirmed today that the rebel forces now have full control over the city of Sirte and that Muammar Gaddafi was killed in the fighting. The circumstances of Colonel Gaddafi’s death are still unclear. The Chairman of the National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, is expected to announce the country’s liberation before long.
 
“Gaddafi’s reluctance to engage in dialogue with his own people has helped to perpetuate a conflict that has caused great suffering among the civilian population,” said Mr Støre.
 
“I hope that Libya’s liberation will be announced soon. This would mark the beginning of a new democratic process in the country, which would lead to the formation of an interim government and the holding of national elections in the near future,” said Mr Støre.
 
“Norway will support Libya in the important reconciliation and reconstruction efforts that must now get under way. This must be a broad, inclusive process in order to lay the best possible basis for a unified and democratic Libya. We expect the National Transitional Council to respect international law and humanitarian law in its further efforts to ensure national unity,” said the Foreign Minister.