Dictator's demise

The US government took its time before confirming the death of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who had received reports of Gadhafi's capture in the past, was surprised when she got the news from Libya while in Afghanistan.

Initially the talk was only about Gadhafi's capture, but later the reports came in that he had been killed.

"Today we can definitively say that the Gadhafi regime has come to an end," US President Barack Obama said in the White House's Rose Garden.

Obama emphasized the role that Libyans played in toppling the Gadhafi regime and that the people of Libya could now determine the future of their own country.

Difficult day

The Libyans now have "a great responsibility to build an inclusive and tolerant and democratic Libya that stands as the ultimate rebuke to Gadhafi's leadership," said Obama. The president said he looks forward to the speedy establishment of a transitional government and a stable transition to Libya's first free and fair elections.

Obama called on the Libyans to respect the rights of all people, including Gadhafi loyalists who had been arrested, and to help secure the country's weapons arsenals. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney later explained that the administration was concerned above all about conventional weapons like surface-to-air missile launchers, bunkers and the clearing of mines.

"We are under no illusions," Obama said. "Libya will travel a long and winding road to full democracy. There will be difficult days ahead. But the United States, together with the international community, is committed to the Libyan people. You have won your revolution."

Message to Syrian president

Obama also sees a symbol in Gadhafi's demise and an unmistakable message for Syrian President Bashar al Assad, whose regime's unrelenting crackdown on demonstrators has brought the country to the brink of civil war.

"For the region, today's events prove once more that the rule of an iron fist inevitably comes to an end," said Obama.

Obama believes Assad has lost his legitimacy to continue ruling Syria, according to his press secretary, who added that the Syrian regime's use of violence against its own people was "unacceptable."

The president also expressed vindication over his decision to launch a limited air campaign to stop Gadhafi's advance on the opposition stronghold of Benghazi and protect Libya's civilian population.

"Without putting a single US service member on the ground, we achieved our objectives, and our NATO mission will soon come to an end," he said.

NATO campaign to end

The US and its NATO allies had erected a no-fly zone to enforce UN Resolution 1973, which called for the use of "all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack."

The French introduced the resolution and led the first airstrikes on Libyan territory. Two weeks after the start of the air campaign on March 19, the US pulled back from its initial leadership position.

Carney explained that the NATO operation could be ended in relatively short order now that most of Libya was under control of the rebels and the National Transitional Council (NTC).

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the end of the Gadhafi regime a "historic turning point for Libya" and said although there was much to celebrate, the regime's victims would be mourned. The secretary-general also warned against too much optimism.

"We have to understand that this is only the end of the beginning," he said. "The road ahead for Libya and its people will be difficult and full of challenges."

Praise for Europeans

Republican senator and former presidential candidate John McCain told US broadcaster CNN that he wished the no-fly zone had been implemented earlier and the US had been more heavily engaged throughout the whole operation. McCain, however, left no doubts that it was a "great day."

"The administration deserves great credit," McCain said while highlighting the leadership taken by the British and the French during the air campaign.

The NTC's ambassador to the US, Ali Aujali, thanked the Americans for their support and called on Washington to continue its close cooperation with the NTC.

"They have to help us build our democratic institutions," Aujali said, adding that America could also help with the reconstruction of the North African nation's economy.

"American companies are invited to participate in Libya's reconstruction and to help train the Libyan people," he said.

Author: Christina Bergmann, Washington / slk
Editor: Martin Kuebler