President Barack Obama speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House regarding Gaddafi's death (Pic: AP)
President Barack Obama speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House regarding Gaddafi's death (Pic: AP)
US President Barack Obama said it was a "momentous day" in the history of Libya but warned there will be "difficult days ahead" on the road to full democracy in the country.
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Mr Obama also urged the Libyan people to respect the human rights of those they had detained.
He said the Nato mission in Libya will soon come to an end.
"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," he said.
"For four decades the Gaddafi regime ruled the Libyan people with an iron fist.
"Basic human rights were denied, innocent civilians were detained, beaten and killed and Libya's wealth was squandered, enormous potential of Libyan people was held back and terror was used as a political weapon.
U.S. President Barack Obama arrives at the Rose Garden of the White House, to make a statement to the press on the death of Libya's former leader Muammar Gaddafi (Pic: PA)
"Today we can definitively say that the Gaddafi regime has come to an end.
"This is a momentous day in the history of Libya.
"The dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted and with this enormous promise the Libyan people now have a great responsibility to build an inclusive and tolerant and democratic Libya that stands as the ultimate rebuke to Gaddafi's dictatorship.
"We call on our Libya friends to continue to work with the international community to secure dangerous materials and to respect the human rights of all Libyans, including those who have been detained.
"We are under no illusions. 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."