ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION
The head of Tripoli's Military Council, Abdul Hakim Belhadj, confirmed that Libya's interim government fighters have captured Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, bringing an end to the two month siege.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) HEAD OF TRIPOLI'S MILITARY COUNCIL, ABDULHAKIM BELHADJ:
"As for the liberation of Sirte. We, thank God, that it has been liberated. The rebels have moved towards their goal which was the liberation of Sirte and today they have announced just a little while ago that it has been liberated. This liberation will be the completion of the liberation of all of Libya and we call on the rebels to continue to act responsibly and safeguard those towns, in order to make sure they bring security and stability which we called for in the revolution of February 17th."
(REPORTER ASKS: "What about Gaddafi?")
HEAD OF TRIPOLI'S MILITARY COUNCIL, ABDULHAKIM BELHADJ, SAYING:
"Gaddafi does not seem to be in Sirte our information says he is somewhere else and we are following up and hopeful that we will be crowned with the delivering of the desires of the Libyan people."
The capture of Sirte means Libya's interim ruling council, the National Transitional Council, should now begin the task of forging a new democratic system, which it had said it would start after the city, built as a showpiece for Gaddafi's rule, had fallen.
