By IANS,
United Nations : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that the death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the end of fighting in the North African country “marks a historic transition for Libya”, Xinhua reported.
He also called on fighters on both sides to “lay down their arms in peace”.
During an interactive dialogue on global sustainability, which was organised by the UN General Assembly, the secretary-general said: “Clearly, this day marks a historic transition for Libya.”
“In the coming days we will witness scenes of celebration as well as grief for those who lost so much,” Ban said, adding, “Yet let us recognise immediately that this is only the end of the beginning — the road ahead for Libya and its people will be difficult and full of challenges.”
Gaddafi, who ruled Libya with an iron fist for over 40 years, was killed Thursday after being on the run for some two months when he repeatedly vowed to keep fighting until death.
The 69-year-old, who preached a strange cocktail of ideology based on Islam and socialism, died in his hometown Sirte, apparently after being wounded in the legs.