The death of Muammar Gaddafi by National Transitional Council fighters in Sirte yesterday marks the end of a drawn out revolt that began in Benghazi in February and opens a new chapter for the Libyan people. Col Gaddafi’s death will hopefully allow the Libyan people to put a very dark period in their history behind them and to focus on rebuilding their country and transforming it into a functioning secular democracy.

Col Gaddafi oppressed his people for 42 years, established one of the most authoritarian police states in the world, turned his country into an international outcast, supported terrorism, squandered Libya’s wealth on foreign adventures and corruption and played a destabilising role in the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East.

Libya, and the world, is a much better place without him.

Nothing could underscore more the brutal nature of his regime than the way Col Gaddafi reacted to the popular unrest that erupted in his country eight months ago. Instead of bowing to the inevitable and stepping aside when it became clear that the people wanted change – like his Tunisian and Egyptian counterparts did – Col Gaddafi chose to kill anyone who protested against his regime, referring to his opponents as “rats” and “cockroaches”.

He remained defiant until the end and even as the Nato-backed National Transitional Council took control of Tripoli in August he continued to be a rallying point for the few hardcore fighters that remained loyal to him in his traditional strongholds of Sirte and Bani Walid. Up until yesterday, his ability to evade capture was having a destabilising effect on the country as it tried to move forward and forget its sorry past.

Col Gaddafi’s death will now no doubt allow Libya’s new leaders to focus more on the challenges that they are faced with. However, some of the former dictator’s sons are still at large and they may still be able to recruit armed followers and conduct guerrilla attacks, which could have a very negative effect on the country. It is essential that these are captured as soon as possible. The Libyan government must also make it clear to the authorities in Algiers that they will be held responsible for any acts of terrorism planned by the two Gaddafi sons who fled to Algeria and that relations between the two countries will be greatly harmed if such subversion takes place.

Now that Col Gaddafi is no longer a threat, the National Transitional Council must address the huge expectations of the Libyan people and the challenges facing the country. A new democratic system must be put in place, a new constitution needs to be drawn up, an election date announced and the economy rebuilt. All Libyans, of whatever tribal or political background, must be made to feel part of the new Libya. The various militias must be incorporated into a single army under one authority.

Col Gaddafi’s death will be particularly welcomed in Malta, which has had to live in the dictator’s shadow for the past four decades and which suffered the consequences of having such an erratic dictator as a neighbour. The island can be very proud of its contribution, however small, to Libya’s liberation, its humanitarian assistance during this conflict and the way Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi handled the crisis.

Malta and its people now look forward to forging strong ties with a post-Gaddafi Libya, to helping the country rebuild its infrastructure and economy and in establishing its young democracy.

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