In their own words: world leaders celebrate the downfall of a tyrant

“I think today is a day to remember all of Col Gaddafi’s victims, from those who died in connection with the Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, to Yvonne Fletcher in a London street, and obviously all the victims of IRA terrorism who died through their use of Libyan Semtex.

“We should also remember the many, many Libyans who died at the hands of this brutal dictator and his regime.”

Prime Minister David Cameron

“This marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of Libya, who now have the opportunity to determine their own destiny in a new and democratic Libya. This is a momentous day in the history of Libya.

US president Barack Obama

“There is much still to be resolved, and we may now have lost an opportunity for getting nearer the truth.”

Jim Swire, father of a Lockerbie victim

“It’s time to start a new Libya, a united Libya.”

Libyan prime minister Mahmoud Jibril

“This brings to an end a bloody war that Gaddafi waged against his own people. The path is now finally clear for a fresh political start, in peace. Germany is relieved and very happy about this.”

German chancellor Angela Merkel

“We hope there will be peace in Libya, and that all those who are governing the state, different representatives of Libyan tribes, will reach a final agreement on the configuration of power and Libya will be a modern democratic state.”

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev

“This is a major step forward in the battle fought for more than eight months by the Libyan people to liberate themselves from the dictatorial and violent regime imposed on them for more than 40 years.”

French president Nicolas Sarkozy

“This is only the end of the beginning. The future will be full of challenges. Now is the time for all Libyans to come together, combatants on all sides must lay down their weapons to achieve peace.”

UN secretary-general Ban ki-Moon

“If they [the NTC] know that he is no longer a threat to them I think that will actually ease the transition process to a new government.”

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton