Shortly after the official confirmation of the death of ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, leaders across the world released statements hoping for a new Libya.
Speaking in the White House Rose Garden Thursday, US President Barack Obama said the death of Gadhafi ends a long, painful chapter for Libyans and warned 'iron fist' regimes in the rest of the Arab world that they will inevitably fall as well.
The US leader added that Gadhafi's demise vindicated the collective military action of the West and said Libyans now have a chance to build a 'democratic' and 'tolerant nation.'
Let's listen in.
[Interview : Barack Obama, US President] " This marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of Libya who now have the opportunity to determine their own destiny in a new and democratic Libya. For four decades, the Gaddafi regime ruled the people of Libya with an iron fist Today we can definitely say that the Gaddafi regime has come to and end. The last major regime last strongholds have fallen."
Obama also said that Washington looked forward to an official announcement of Libya's liberation, which officials in Tripoli said could come as early as Friday.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also reacted after reports of Gadhafi's death were confirmed.
The UN chief called for national unity and reconciliation, not revenge, in Libya following the death of the ousted leader saying combatants on both sides "must lay down their arms in peace."
Ban urged the people of Libya to come together as they move through a "historic transition" after decades of Gadhafi rule pledging UN support to Libya's transitional authorities as they build a new nation.
[Interview : Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General
United Nations] "Now is the time for all Libyans to come together. Libyans can only realize the promise of the future through national unity and reconciliation. Combatants on all sides must lay down their arms in peace. This is the time for healing and rebuilding, for generosity of spirit not for revenge The new United Nations Mission to Libya is on the ground and ready to assist Libya and its people along the path ahead."
Speaking in the White House Rose Garden Thursday, US President Barack Obama said the death of Gadhafi ends a long, painful chapter for Libyans and warned 'iron fist' regimes in the rest of the Arab world that they will inevitably fall as well.
The US leader added that Gadhafi's demise vindicated the collective military action of the West and said Libyans now have a chance to build a 'democratic' and 'tolerant nation.'
Let's listen in.
[Interview : Barack Obama, US President] " This marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of Libya who now have the opportunity to determine their own destiny in a new and democratic Libya. For four decades, the Gaddafi regime ruled the people of Libya with an iron fist Today we can definitely say that the Gaddafi regime has come to and end. The last major regime last strongholds have fallen."
Obama also said that Washington looked forward to an official announcement of Libya's liberation, which officials in Tripoli said could come as early as Friday.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also reacted after reports of Gadhafi's death were confirmed.
The UN chief called for national unity and reconciliation, not revenge, in Libya following the death of the ousted leader saying combatants on both sides "must lay down their arms in peace."
Ban urged the people of Libya to come together as they move through a "historic transition" after decades of Gadhafi rule pledging UN support to Libya's transitional authorities as they build a new nation.
[Interview : Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General
United Nations] "Now is the time for all Libyans to come together. Libyans can only realize the promise of the future through national unity and reconciliation. Combatants on all sides must lay down their arms in peace. This is the time for healing and rebuilding, for generosity of spirit not for revenge The new United Nations Mission to Libya is on the ground and ready to assist Libya and its people along the path ahead."
