Gadhafi Dead, but Details Vary

Two generations of Libyans, and Americans for that matter, have known one Libyan leader - the recently killed Moammar Gadhafi. Amid the jubilation in Tripoli and other Libyan cities, questions remain as to how the 42-year dictator of Libya perished. Below is what some news organizations and officials are saying Thursday:

* Gadhafi was killed in his hometown of Sirte where he spent his younger years living in a Bedouin tent, according to UPI.

* According to Reuters, Gadhafi and a few dozen of his bodyguards tried to flee Sirte; the city has been under siege by National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters trying to capture the former leader. Other reports have the convoy containing as many as 80 vehicles.

* As they fled, Gadhafi's entourage of vehicles was struck by French aircraft. The discovery of 15 pick-up trucks with attached machine guns provided evidence of the strike. Yet, like so many times before, Gadhafi himself escaped and was not found at the scene. Accounts of what occurred next vary.

* According to the government fighters, they caught up with Gadhafi and a firefight ensued. Fighters even indicated that one of Gadhafi's guards acted as if he was surrendering until fighters approached, then began firing upon them.

* According to a spokesman for the revolutionary fighters, Gadhafi was wounded during the fight. He stated that fighters found Gadhafi and tried to get him medical assistance by taking him to ambulance. The attempt failed when Gadhafi bled to death half an hour later, according to the Americus Times-Recorder.

* KTC Field Commander Mohammed Leith described Gadhafi as hiding in a sewage pipe when heavy fire forced "the king of kings," as Gadhafi was called, out of the pipe. Government fighters fired upon Gadhafi, wounding him. Leith simply said that Gadhafi later died.

* Interim Prime Minister Mahmud Jibril claims that Gadhafi was killed in "crossfire" after he was captured. Jibril said that the vehicle carrying Gadhafi began to move and Gadhafi was shot in the head as fighting continued between Gadhafi's fighters and NTC fighters.

* Yet, video first broadcast on Al-Jazeera television may provide the best evidence of how 42 years of terror ended. Gadhafi was shown badly beaten, but alive, being taken from a vehicle. The former dictator seemed to fall to the ground. Calls of "keep him alive" are heard, then gunshots. Gadhafi's dead body is then seen being rolled around on the ground as the cameraman struggles to stay focused.

* The Montreal Gazette reports that the body of Gadhafi was transported to a mosque in Misrata.