New photos of Qaddafi are up on The Atlantic Wire’s liveblog. Readers have asked that we include a warning before posting graphic images, and rightfully so. We’ll be posting photos in-text from now on. -JK
WARNING: The photo is graphic. Hop to the link to see it.
Image via Reuters
I wonder if all this photo-dissemination is making the White House’s decision to not show Osama’s death photos justified? These are grizzly, to say the least.
We’re with you, Josh. There is a debate to be had about this.
The AP just ran Gaddafi’s obit. That’s significant. (Editor’s note: we’re trying out the Clipboard embed with this one. Work for you? Let us know what you think.)
Pictured is a man claiming to hold what was reportedly once Qaddafi’s golden gun. The Guardian points to this image, available via AFP and Getty Images, that’s described as “Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters carry a young man holding what they claim to be the gold-plated gun of ousted Libyan leader.” A BBC correspondent reported earlier that the man found Qaddafi hiding, and the leader said to him: “Don’t Shoot.” Read more.
The guy who got the hat suddenly feels shortchanged.
imwithkanye asks: Ugh, this image is horrific and I've already seen it reblogged several times. I understand its weight and contribution to the news story - but I wish it was uploaded into the body of the post with a warning ahead. (Not that I'm upset with you all for this post. It's just hard to look at.)
» SFB says: We really struggled with that one. And we agree with you on that entirely. It was tough. But ultimately, that photo seems incredibly significant, especially if it turns out to be true. Apologies for the graphicness of it. — Ernie @ SFB
Muammar Gaddafi reportedly captured as Libyan forces seize Sirte
An image captured off a cellular phone camera shows the arrest of Libya’s strongman Muammar Gaddafi in Sirte on October 20, 2011. A Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) commander had told AFP that Kadhafi was captured as his hometown Sirte was falling, adding that the ousted strongman was badly wounded. (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images)
We thought about not posting this but decided in the end it said too much about the story. Assuming this would be tough to Photoshop. But we’ll be keeping an eye on this one.
- 0804 Eastern — First Reuters report citing NTC official saying Gaddafi died
- 0812 Eastern — Reuters writethru saying same
- 0812 Eastern — Al Jazeera English carries Reuters report; cites own sources that Gaddafi had been wounded
- 0824 Eastern — CNN cites Al-Ahrar televised report that Gaddafi died; Al-Ahrar is an NTC media operation.
- 0824 Eastern — The Guardian posts what is claimed to be a cell phone photo of “the arrest” of Gaddafi.
- 0826 Eastern — The Guardian cites NTC spokesperson saying Gaddafi is dead, and his body is arriving in the city of Misrata “any minute now.”
That cell phone photo … whew.
There is increasing confirmation that Gaddhafi has indeed been captured. Al Jazeera English is reporting that Libyan TV is reporting his capture.
Will be curious as to see what comes of all this. No offense to the NTC, but we’ve been burned before.
Muammar Gaddafi reportedly captured as Libyan forces seize Sirte
Deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has been captured and wounded in both legs, National Transitional Council (NTC) official Abdel Majid said on Thursday
“He’s captured. He’s wounded in both legs … He’s been taken away by ambulance,” the senior NTC military official told Reuters by telephone.
The U.S. State Department says it cannot confirm the capture, though a Libyan government fighter in Sirte tells Reuters he was an eyewitness.
Libyan interim government fighters captured Muammar Gaddafi’s home town on Thursday, extinguishing the last significant resistance by forces loyal to the deposed leader and ending a two-month siege. (Photo: Louafi Larbi/Reuters)
Reuters is reporting that Gaddafi has died, according to the NTC. We’re not going to confirm these reports until there’s independent verification.
We want to do everything we can to prevent him from causing trouble for the new Libya. We don’t know where he is, but we hope he can be captured or killed soon so you don’t have to fear him any longer.Secretary of State Hillary Clinton • Speaking in Libya, to the interim National Transitional Council. Clinton is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Libya since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi’s government during August, though the former dictator is still in hiding and his loyalists have continued to clash with NTC forces in places such as Brega. In light of the NTC’s somewhat daunting task in rebuilding Libya, especially with Gaddafi still at large and presumably eager to derail that process, Clinton and the U.S. wanted to lend some support that would also be beneficial from an optics standpoint — it should be noted, though, that the U.S. has said Clinton’s “captured or killed” phrase isn’t meant to represent any change in policy. source (via • follow)
I’m moving back to New York in a few days. Unlike past...
OMG. I got so...
In this week’s Newsweek, a little...
Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
Here’s a hidden feature that shipped in...
Watch: PCB gets a visual shout out on GMA’s Yahoo/Tumblr...
Dangerous times for civilians in Sirte: The Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) has regained control of the Sirte airport, amidst fighting throughout the city. The airport had been under NTC control previously, but two weeks ago loyalists of deposed dictator Muammar Gaddafi (who was born in Sirte) recaptured it. Gaddafi loyalists have reportedly used rockets and sniper fire to fend off the NTC’s assaults on the city. Some of Sirte’s 100,000 residents have chosen to flee, as attacks by both sides pose fatal risks to the civilian population. source
Suggesting that the Lockerbie case is closed is ludicrous. I am not surprised that the new interim government might want to avoid getting involved, but this is a miserable attempt to avoid a perfectly reasonable request for any information or evidence that there might be in Libya. Perhaps there is nothing.Pamela Dix, sister of a Lockerbie victim • Decrying a refusal by Libya’s National Transitional Council to give Scottish prosecutors access to any newly discovered evidence relating to the Lockerbie bombing. The prosecutors had been hoping to find new evidence implicating other figures in the plot, for which Abdel Basset al-Megrahi was convicted in 2001. The NTC’s interim justice minister, Mohammed al-Alagi, stated that “the case is closed,” which prompted the above response. Libya’s interim leader, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, claimed in March that he had evidence of Gaddafi’s involvement, which does make this a bit hard to answer for. source (via • follow)
Photos
A rebel on crutches fires a rocket propelled grenade while fighting on the front line in Sirte, Libya, Sept. 24, 2011 (Anis Mili/Reuters)
Anis Mili just scored a crazy photograph. Wow. Look at the timing on that thing.
» Memories still linger: The 1996 massacre at Abu Salim prison in Tripoli was one of the many catalysts to the civil war that effectively toppled Muammar Gaddafi. And this will be a difficult one to decipher. ”We are dealing with more than 1,270 martyrs and must distinguish each one from the other for identification by comparing their DNA with family members,” said Libyan medical official Dr. Osman Abdul Jalil. “It may take years to reach the truth.”
Copyright 2009-2013 Ernie Smith • Ask us stuff! • E-mail us • Follow us on Twitter • Follow us on Facebook
