Born in a desert near Sirte in 1942, Muammar Gaddafi, the mercurial and eccentric strongman, was the longest-serving leader in both Africa and the Arab world, having ruled Libya since he toppled King Idris I in a coup at the age of 27. In this September 1, 1987 file photo, Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi, holds a baton as he sits to review Libyan troops during the 18th anniversary celebration of Libya's revolution in Tripoli.

Libyan leader Gaddafi killed
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The former Libyan strongman died of his wounds after being captured from a hole where he had been hiding. His son Mutassim was also found dead. 
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Libya's Muammar Gaddafi killed
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The news of Gaddafi's capture came shortly after the National Transitional Council (NTC) claimed capturing Sirte after weeks of fighting.