Hunt for Gaddafi after rebels break 42-year grip on power

Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi was a hunted man last night as his regime lay in tatters.

World leaders were bracing themselves for the task of helping restore order to the country Gaddafi ruled with an iron fist for more than four decades.

While rebel fighters laid siege to the tyrant’s heavily fortified compound in the Libyan capital Tripoli, Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama urged him to surrender and end further bloodshed as fears grew he might flee abroad.

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Both warned that, although rebel advances had ensured Gaddafi’s rule was almost at an end, Libya’s problems were far from over after months of fighting.

The Pentagon said it believed Gaddafi had not left the country and that at least two of his sons, including heir-apparent Saif al-Islam, had been captured by rebels.

But the dictator’s whereabouts remained a mystery last night and it was feared the bloody last stand of warriors loyal to him could be followed by revenge attacks on civilians in Libya and elsewhere.

Mr Cameron and President Obama agreed Gaddafi must “relinquish power once and for all” during a telephone call last night.

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A statement released by the White House said the men believed the situation had “reached a tipping point”.

It added: “They agreed to continue to work with allies and partners in the international community to protect the people of Libya and to support a peaceful transition to democracy.”

President Obama cautioned that it was “not over yet” and said he had directed his team to be in close contact with Nato and the United Nations to “determine other steps we can take”.

Nato, whose planes have hit at least 40 targets in or near Tripoli in the last two days, promised to maintain its air campaign until all pro-Gaddafi forces surrender or return to barracks.

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President Obama said: “As the regime collapses there is still fierce fighting in some areas and we have reports of regime elements threatening to continue fighting.

“Although it is clear Gaddafi’s rule is over, he still has the opportunity to reduce further bloodshed by explicitly relinquishing power to the people of Libya and calling for those forces that continue to fight to lay down their arms for the sake of Libya.”

Mr Cameron said he would “like to see Col Gaddafi face justice” for his “appalling crimes against his own people”, but he insisted it was for Libyans to decide how their dictator should be dealt with.

“Libya is a sovereign nation,” he said. “It is a matter for the new authorities in Libya to do what they believe is right with Gaddafi.

“First, obviously, they have to find him.”

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Promising that the UK would establish a “diplomatic presence” in Tripoli as soon as it was safe, the Prime Minister added: “This has not been our revolution, but we can be proud that we have played our part. There will undoubtedly be difficult days ahead...But today the Arab Spring is a step further away from oppression and dictatorship and a step closer to freedom and democracy and the Libyan people are closer to their dream of a better future.”

In addition to his call with President Obama, Mr Cameron held talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and leaders including French president Nicolas Sarkozy and the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates.

His spokesman said there was a “strong international resolve that Gaddafi needs to go”.

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said he could see no circumstances in which British ground troops would be deployed in Libya, but he insisted the no-fly zone would remain in place.

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