Death of Muammar El-Qaddafi

On October 20, 2011, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, recent leader of Libya, died in Misurata, Libya. While the new leaders of Libya tell the public that he was killed in cross-fire, photographic and forensic evidence shows a greater possibility of execution by anti-Qaddafi fighters. After a scattering and detour of Qaddafi's convoy, he seemed to appear wounded, but still alive. He was then taken off in an ambulance to Misurata, where Qaddafi's body was inspected. Forensic evidence revealed bullet wounds in the head and abdomen. Some witnesses say the final blow to death was that he was struck in the head with a gun butt, but precisely what happened is still unclear. Most documented evidence had been digitally recorded by cell phone camera images, which makes it difficult to know what is reality and what is altered recordings.

Not only was Qaddafi killed, but one of his sons, Muatassim, was also killed on Thursday, and unconfirmed reports claim that yet another one of his sons, Seif al-Islam, was captured and wounded. Libyans and other nations of the Middle East were gleeful, as they hope to hint at a similar fate awaiting other Arab dictators, including President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen and President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, who have sought to crush popular uprisings.

The death of Qaddafi pleased most Libyans, as they believe that his death symbolizes the lifting of "the dark shadow of tyranny" for Libya. However, some voices in the Middle East were at unease when it came to the violence leading up to Qaddafi's death. The few who are upset hope for justice for the tyrant who committed the murder of Muammar el-Qaddafi.