BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Former Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi finally could hide no longer.

A 42-year run of ruthless power came to an end when Gaddafi was driven into hiding two months ago, and on Thursday morning, he was killed during an assault on his birthplace.

Muammar Gaddafi was killed in a drainage ditch while desperately begging for his life, according to Mirror. Gaddafi is believed to have left his car after his speeding convoy fleeing why his Sirte stronghold was attacked by NATO warplanes. The 69-year-old Gaddafi was shot in the head and both legs. Opposition fighters said he died shortly after the assault. His bloodied corpse was later shown on live television and beamed around the world.

The New York Times reported that there had been conflicting stories about Qaddafi's death, and it was not certain whether he had been executed by his captors, died of gunshot wounds from a firefight, was killed by NATO warplanes or bled to death in an ambulance.

According to guardian.co.uk, President Barack Obama said, "We can definitively say that the Gaddafi regime has come to an end." Obama stressed that the operation in Libya was started after the Libyan people asked for help.

"The dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted," continued Obama. “Now the Libyan people have the great responsibility to build an inclusive, tolerant and democratic Libya."

BBC News reports that the mood on Tripoli is celebratory and exhilarated, and fireworks are going off. Young and old people alike are heading toward Martyrs' Square, many flashing victory signs.

Many Libyans never believed they would see this day. Hundreds were cheering Gaddafi's death at the Libyan consulate in Tunis. People were waving their crutches, and holding up their bandaged hands and arms, while chanting, "He's gone! He's gone!"

A student who lost a leg in the Sirte fighting was hoisted to the top of a railing while people cheered.