Western sources confirm that Muammar Qaddafi was captured Thursday, Oct. 20 in or near Sirte. Reported at first have been wounded in two legs, he now appears to have died of wounds he sustained in a NATO air strike against his convoy outside Sirte, one of his last strongholds. Earlier Thursday, the NTC claimed to have achieved complete control of the city after long months of siege against fierce resistance. His death saves the interim government from having to decide whether to try him at home or hand him over to the international court. Russia used Israel's negotiations with Hamas for the release of Gilad Shalit to justify its continuing support for Syrian President Bashar Assad and opening the door to pro-Iranian and pro-Syrian terrorist groups. Wednesday, Oct. 19, Moscow welcomed a Lebanese Hizballah delegation, the first European capital to formally receive Iran's terrorist surrogate. DEBKAfile: The Russians suspect a US-Israeli gambit in play to loosen Hamas' bonds with Damascus and Tehran and are working through Hizballah to spoil it. Tuesday night, Oct. 18, the State Department spokesman Mark Toner disclosed that the United States had voiced concerns to Israel over some of the 477 Palestinians freed as part of a deal for his release. "We have looked at some of these individuals and we've communicated our position... to the Israeli government."
DEBKAfile Exclusive Report
DEBKAfile Special Report
An opinion poll the day before Gilad Shalit's release Tuesday showed 88 percent support for the prisoner swap, while 82 percent feared it would encourage more kidnappings.
Thursday, 20 October 2011
DEBKAfile Special Report October 20, 2011, 3:14 PM (GMT+02:00)
Muammar Qaddafi is dead
Moscow welcomes Hizballah delegation, cites Israeli talks with Hamas
October 19, 2011, 10:41 PM (GMT+02:00)
Hizballah flag hoised in Moscow to honor Hizballah visit
US objected to Israel's release of some Palestinians as posing a threat
October 18, 2011, 11:47 PM (GMT+02:00)
Gilad Shalit salutes Prime Minister and Chief of Staff
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