Slumped against the bloodied legs of a revolutionary fighter, this is the picture which Libyan rebels say confirms that deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi has been killed. The former Libyan dictator was reportedly found cowering in a hole in the ground at the centre of Sirte, after rebels moved through the seaside town during their final assault.

Captured image: A mobile phone picture, purporting to be that of wounded leader Muammar Gaddafi, was circulated shortly after the news of his capture broke

Fighter Mohammed Al Bibi told reporters that the toppled tyrant had pleaded ‘Don’t shoot, don’t shoot’ as he attempted to surrender. There were multiple reports in the Arab press that he died after suffering wounds to the legs.

National Transitional Council official Abdel Majid Mlegta said: ‘He [Gaddafi] was also hit in his head. There was a lot of firing against his group and he died.’ He said Gaddafi was gunned down as he tried to escape, while another fighter said the dictator had been hit in the stomach at least once with a 9mm bullet.

Mobile phone footage, released shortly after the news of his capture broke, appears to show a bloodied Gaddafi being manhandled. Al Jazeera was also repeatedly showing footage of what appeared to be Gaddafi’s shirtless and lifeless body being dragged along the ground. source – Daily Mail UK