World leaders hail Gadhafi’s death

USA TODAY

While we await a statement from President Obama, other world leaders are weighing in on the death of former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

“This is only the end of the beginning,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. “The road ahead for Libya and its people will be difficult and full of challenges.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron:

“Today is a day to remember all of Colonel Gaddafi’s victims. From those who died in connection with the Pan Am Flight over Lockerbie, to Yvonne Fletcher in a London street, and obviously all the victims of IRA terrorism who died through their use of Libyan Semtex.

“We should also remember the many, many Libyans who died at the hands of this brutal dictator and his regime. People in

Libya today have an even greater chance, after this news, of building themselves a strong and democratic future.

I’m proud of the role that Britain has played in helping them to bring that about and I pay tribute to the bravery of the Libyans who’ve helped to liberate their country. We will help them, we will work with them.”

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe:

“The announcement of the death of Gaddafi and the collapse of Sirte is the end of a very difficult period for the Libyan people. It’s the end of 42 years of tyranny, of a military conflict that has been very difficult for the Libyan people.

“It’s an historic event. It’s the beginning of a new period, of a democracy, freedom and the rebuilding of the country. France is proud to have helped the Libyan people.”

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi:

“Sic transit gloria mundi (the glory of the world is fleeting). Now the war is over.”

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev:

“We hope that there will be peace in Libya, and that all those who are governing the state, different representatives of Libyan tribes, will reach a final agreement on the configuration of power and Libya will be a modern democratic state.”