Gaddafi's death marks a new beginning for Libya - PM
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this evening hoped that Muammar Gaddafi’s death would mean the beginning of a new chapter for Libya, leading to a strong and united country with Libyans responsible for their destiny and electing their own government.
Dr Gonzi was giving his reaction to dictator Gaddafi’s death.
Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril officially confirmed that Col. Gaddafi was killed in Sirte.
He died as forces of the National Transitional Council launched a final assault on the last pocket of resistance in his hometown.
Dr Gonzi said he had no doubt the Maltese wished that the events in Libya would lead the country to success and would also bring stability to the Mediterranean.
Malta had been witness to what had taken place and would do its utmost to continue helping and supporting Libya.
The war had been tough but the Libyans now faced a bigger challenge -that of giving birth to a democratic process.
“The Maltese will help according to our capabilities,” Dr Gonzi said.
PL HOPING FOR PROCESS OF RECONCILIATION
Dr George Vella, the Opposition's spokesman on foreign affairs, said that he hoped that following today's events, Libya would witness less bloodshed and would instead embark on a process of reconciliation and rebuilding.
He augured that Libya would embrace democracy and those values which the Libyan people had long sought and shed their blood for.
The PL, Dr Vella said, wished to see unity and peace in a free Libya, but appreciated that more hard work remained to be done for this dream to be realised. The party, he said, stood ready to help in any way it could.
Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil also reacted to Gaddafi’s death and said this marked the closing of a painful chapter and the opening of a new beginning for the Libyan people.
"The demise of Gaddafi marks a new start for the Libyan people. May they rebuild the country in full respect of democracy, human rights and the rule of law,” Dr Busuttil said
“I am proud that both my country and my political group in the European Parliament, the EPP, are four-square behind the Libyan people in this new beginning,” he added.
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Oliver Grech
Oct 21st 2011, 11:12
What is the position of alex scibberas trigona on this (apart from calling Lou Bondi hmieg)? and KMB? I hope that both of them unite with all Malta and admit that Gaddafi was a dictator who killed his own people and that a new bright day is ahead of Libyans.
Good luck free Libya!!
Mark Fleri
Oct 21st 2011, 10:05
Whats ironic about this is that Gaddafi has been commiting these atrocities since he first went into power but government leaders have never acted in the past. It had to take the people of Libya to finally stand up to such a brute and in the process losing 40,000 lives. We see all the pictures of Mintoff, Adami, Sant, Mifsud Bonnici, Gonzi and the rest of the world past leaders who lined up to shake his hands. Now all the leaders are all glad to see him dead, but hey we got some oil out of him right!
david farrugia
Oct 21st 2011, 00:43
ahjar dawn in nies jaraw kif se jaghmlu u jqallaw lira lil maltin min hemm ax gbajna nahdmu bil paga minima... grazzi...
Sandro Pace
Oct 21st 2011, 00:19
And what do you know emma xerri, who is bad and worse? Have you lived in Libya and opposed or criticised the regime? There is a liberty momentum in libya today that it is hardly reversible. So wait before you talk. Few comparable tyrants died a peaceful dead and fortunately and happily, gaddafi is not one of them. He had a trial, but his was shorter than Ceaucescu's. But if it is as you say, the new boss will suffer a worse fate, dont worry.
In this historic moment for the mediterrenean region, all some people can do is worry whether more tourists will go to libya instead of malta. It's pathetic. Shabby Malta must compete on its own steam not on the woes of others. Service with a smile to start with.
With an eventual stable libya (and it will happen) observant to the rule of law, the migration problem can only be further reduced more than it has till now. We now know who was sending them. Showing any remorse amounts to treason. Yes it is a positive development even if some wrongly think it was brought about by hypocracy and interests. Libyan people are not caring much. It is their moment. They've called for outside help, and had it when they asked for it.
Finally, he tasted his own medicine, suffered real fear for once, and justice was done. Lessons to be learned. ...and all his people loved him.
Emma Xerri
Oct 21st 2011, 09:15
Sandro, I have only two words to say to you, then you can figure out what type of liberty and democracy the Libyan people can look forward to, "AllaUAkbar".
Meet the new boss
Worse then the old boss
Emma Xerri
Oct 21st 2011, 09:58
History is a great teacher Sandro. And not just the mainstream one that they teach you in school either, the other one that you have to go out of your way and research to find out. For example, did you know that a prominent American Corporation sold fuel additives to the Nazis to power their airplanes, all the while American soldiers were conscripted to join the navy and army to fight the same Nazis! Yes, these additives helped bomb Europe and Malta, supplied for financial gain.
So please, do not tell me how do I know who or what is bad or worse. I just know. History (real history) is replete with such duplicities and the usual reason is and has been from time immemorial - greed and money.
Monica Muscat
Oct 21st 2011, 00:09
A man has been - with the same brutality he used with thousands of people - sometimes with his golden gun. Yet! Still a human being, who chose to become unhuman! Yet we Cristians have nothing else to say, do or write - except stupid assumptions, would be predictions, and biased political quips!!!
I just did not enjoy what I saw on the screen! I would have prefered that the captures would have waited to bring him in front of an International Court of just, to be tried and condemned, as, of course, nothing short of a dead sentence would have been possible.
Death of a Dictator, yes, but one that does not do anyone any credit. Just as the death of Mussolini, so many years ago. The pictures we were shown today will go down in history to shame humanity, just as those of Mussolini hanging from his legs.
Gaddafi's God, is also our God - It was his personal creed and greed for power and money. So let us put, at least for these few hours, all thoughts of judgement and condemnation - a commit his soul to the Lord.
With Him the final Judgement.
debbie Voss
Oct 20th 2011, 23:34
i HOPE THat thisis not an anothewr romanian scenario when a dictatorisreplaced by a whole corrupt parliament that drives the country toits knees. Lookat romania today and you will see a corrupt system that replaced a corrupt dictator.
Sandro Pace
Oct 21st 2011, 08:13
Corruption will never go away totally, though it should be fought nail and teeth. However a democratic environment is still the best, and where it can be effectively exposed, criticised, fought, or corrupt people eventually replaced.
Vincent Bezzina
Oct 20th 2011, 23:28
A fitting end for a dictator. Other leaders should take note!
Ms.D. Galea
Oct 20th 2011, 23:28
The look of genuine serenity and happiness in the eyes of all the Libyans including the Ambassador ,interviewed on local tv today, says it all.
Good luck and may God be with you today and always.
Simon Whiting
Oct 20th 2011, 22:38
Karl Consiglio
Today, 18:13
I can imagine the Brits in a not to distant future saying "Why go to Malqa, when we can go to Libya?"
Fool I guess you mean Malta and not Malqa,Inbred...........
m. borg
Oct 20th 2011, 21:58
The demise of Gaddafi marks a new start for the Libyan people. May they rebuild the country in full respect of democracy, human rights and the rule of law,” Dr Busuttil said
.
....and who is going to make sure this happens?
Everybody loves to ride the wave but as soon as it starts to subside a lot falter as it reaches the shore.
Emma Xerri
Oct 20th 2011, 19:18
Meet the new boss,
Worse than the old boss.
By the way, before I forget, my sympathy is for all the people who will be injured by spent bullets falling from the sky during the celebrations.
Peter Agius
Oct 20th 2011, 20:36
Spent bullets falling from the sky never hurt anybody.
Claris Galea
Oct 20th 2011, 21:04
Emma
You are right and many people die from falling bullets all over the world , but in Libya there is no body count at the moment , since only Gaddafi killed people and we all live in a dream and wish that Libya will change into a paradise and all the tourist will go to Libya and its 5* hotels while Malta will become bankrupt with the money spent on refugees !!!!
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1199/can-a-bullet-fired-into-the-air-kill-someone-when-it-comes-down
Peter Agius .....do you know what Terminal Velocity is ????
D. A . Agius
Oct 20th 2011, 21:25
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebratory_gunfire
Peter Agius
Oct 20th 2011, 22:04
Terminal velocity is gravitational velocity. A bullet falling under terminal velocity is not deadly. Maybe you were refering to a ricochet bullet. That would be deadly indeed.
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 21st 2011, 08:56
Is this Emma Xerri for real? Or did she perhaps benefit from Gaddafi's blood money?
Franco Abela
Oct 21st 2011, 09:35
@ PETER AGIUS.... FROM WIKIPEDIA
Falling-bullet injuries
Bullets fired into the air usually fall back at speeds much lower than those at which they leave the barrel of a firearm. Nevertheless, people are injured, sometimes fatally, when bullets discharged into the air fall back down. The mortality rate among those struck by falling bullets is about 32%, compared with about 2% to 6% normally associated with gunshot wounds.[5] The higher mortality is related to the higher incidence of head wounds from falling bullets.
Matthew Grima
Oct 21st 2011, 10:09
Peter Agius, how about we go round to Paceville, I drop a euro from the top of Portomaso onto your head. If you manage to talk afterwards, you can keep the euro.
David Philip Farrugia
Oct 20th 2011, 19:17
Kellna kliem iebes kontra l-ambaxxutur libjan ghax ma konniex nafu x'inhu jigri, hsibnih purcinell . Nahseb li kif jghid il-malti laghbna lkoll u wera li hu bniedem umli u kbir. Ma nohodhiex bil-kbira li ha jkollu sehem kbir fil-politika libjana u jirnexxilu jiehu posizzjoni gholja. AWGURI!
J. Borg
Oct 20th 2011, 18:55
I think we are counting the chicks before they hatch.....
For the moment we are seeing the Libyans united......but what will happen in the not so distant future when elections take place. Will they still be united?
Karl Mercieca
Oct 20th 2011, 18:54
A joyous day indeed! The angels in heaven are rejoining with our Loving and Merciful Father!
I hope our Merciful and Loving God gives this bastard what he deserves - eternal damnation, pain and suffering in the deepest pits of hell, burning forever in the glorious hell-fires of Lucifer!
Praise be to Jesus! Praise be to our Loving Father!
Emma Xerri
Oct 20th 2011, 18:53
Yes, and they have miles and miles of unpoilt beaches.
Karl Consiglio
Oct 20th 2011, 18:13
I can imagine the Brits in a not to distant future saying "Why go to Malqa, when we can go to Libya?"
Alfred Grech
Oct 20th 2011, 19:37
I googled and searched all the geography sites but could not find Malqa :))
Jean Paul Micallef
Oct 20th 2011, 20:00
Hope not but true.
Hossam Helwani
Oct 20th 2011, 23:08
it should be a good excuse for the hoteliers and restaurant owners to be realistic with proper service and proper decent pricing of food as an example
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