Libya's new leaders - former rebel fighters and now NTC members - declared the country to be free from the 42-year rule of Muammar Gaddafi on Sunday .

Thousands gathered in the city of Benghazi to hear the announcement of liberation.

National Transitional Council officials and spectators chanted "raise your head high, you are a free Libyan!"

Celebrations are said to be continuing well into the night.

National Transitional Council (NTC) chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil, said,

"Today we are one flesh, one national flesh. We have become united brothers as we have not been in the past,"

"I call on everyone for forgiveness, tolerance and reconciliation,"

"We must get rid of hatred and envy from our souls. This is a necessary matter for the success of the revolution and the success of the future Libya."

"the martyrs, the civilians and the army had waited for this moment. But now they are in the best of places ... eternal heaven."

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague called the rebels' victory "historic" as leaders around the world hail Libya's new era.

See  here and UPFA's sorrow at Gaddafi's demise, for the Sri Lankan state's reactions.

“We really do need some clarity.”

"More details are needed to ascertain whether he was killed in some form of fighting or was executed after his capture."

"You can't just chuck the law out of the window."

"Killing someone outside a judicial procedure, even in countries where there is the death penalty, is outside the rule of law."

"I would strongly support both a U.N. investigation that has been called for and the investigation that the Transitional National Council said they will conduct."

"You know, I think it's important that this new government, this effort to have a democratic Libya, start with the rule of law, start with accountability".

"So I view the investigation on its own merits as important but also as part of a process that will give Libya the best possible chance to navigate toward a stable, secure, democratic future."

The Scottish National Party (SNP) launched the campaign for independence on Sunday, outlining the proposed referendum on independence and urged supporters to brace themselves for the "biggest campaign ever".

The annoucement follows the SNP leader, Alex Salmond's, rallying call to the Scottish nation to unie behind the Scottish identity.

Angus Robertson, the SNP's campaign director, launching the party's "biggest donation drive ever", urged party supporters to contribute generously, in order to build a "fighting fund" and "war chest".

"Our independence campaign starts now. It's starting. The starting gun is being fired," said Robertson.

Scotland's national poet, Edwin Morgan, has donated almost £1 million to kick start the campaign.  

On the referendum, Salmond states there would be two questions - the first "a straight yes-no question [on] independence," and the "second question, in the same way as we did in 1997, in which we'd offer a fiscal autonomy option".

"I'm not for limiting the choices of the Scottish people, I leave that to Westminster," added Salmond.

After the death of Muammar Gaddafi, Syrian opposition activists have been reinvigorated in their bid to drive Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power.  

The death of the former Libyan leader sparked mass demonstrations in the city of Homs, where protestors celebrated the end of Gaddafi’s regime and warned that Assad may end up suffering the same fate. They came with banners and chanted, "Gaddafi is gone. Your turn is coming, Bashar!" and “Bashar al-Assad, how do you feel today?”

There were also reports of crowds of jubilant Libyans in Tripoli’s renamed Martyr’s Square chanting “Syria! Syria!”, cheering on the Syrian opposition.

The Local Coordination Committees in Syria, a coordinating group for the pro-democracy protests, issued a congratulatory statement to the NTC saying,

"This third great victory for the Arab Revolutions sends a critical message to the region, the people suffering under other tyrants and the world at large. There is no turning back from the demands for freedom."

There are also sings that the international focus may be shifting to Syria, after French Foreign minister Alain Juppe said,

"Turning to Syria, given the crimes against humanity committed by the Gaddafi regime, France is asking the UN Security Council to assume its responsibilities and sanction the bloody repression.

I hope we will soon reach an agreement on multilateral action that can step up pressure on the Syrian regime."

Yemeni opposition have been galvanised by the events in Libya, with social media networks flooded with comments warning President Ali Abdullah Saleh of the fate of other leaders during the Arab Spring. One comment read:

“Ben Ali escaped, Mubarak is in jail, Gaddafi was killed. Which fate do you prefer, Ali Abdullah Saleh? You can consult with Bashar.”

India should be “much more relaxed” in its approach to Chinese investments y and get rid of “needless” restrictions, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said.

“We are imagining demons where there are none,” he added.

Ramesh's comments came in the context of recent reports that India had barred import of telecom equipment from major Chinese firm Huawei, especially in the border areas following security concerns.

"China is implementing projects worth over USD 30 billion [in India] but unfortunately the controversy over Huawei has overshadowed the whole issue of Chinese investments," Ramesh said.

"We have a huge trade deficit with China. But we are still suspicious of Chinese investment in India," he added.

See Outlook’s report here.

Former Algerian Defense Minister Khaled Nezzar has been arrested in Geneva over allegations of war crimes committed during the Algerian civil war, which started in 1992.

The 73 year-old, who is also a retired Army General, was questioned by Swiss prosecutors, before being released pending further investigations.

The Swiss human rights group Track Impunity Always (TRIAL) have accused Nezzar of inciting, directing and committing massacres, as well as torture and other human rights violations.

See report from Reuters here.

TRIAL were also involved in pursuing allegations of war crimes against Sri Lanka’s Deputy Ambassador to Germany and Switzerland General Jagath Dias.

Swiss law allows for suspects accused of human rights violations to be arrested in Switzerland, even if the crimes did not occur there. Dias has since fled to Colombo and faces arrest if he returns to Swiss territory.

See our earlier post: 'Dias faces arrest if he returns' (Sep 2011)

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme for the first time as the UK's defence secretary, Phillip Hammond reiterated Britain's commitment to protect civilians populations from unscrupulous regimes.

Listen here from 02:18:00 for full interview.

Extracts reproduced verbatim below:

HAMMOND: We took part in this NATO campaign under the United Nations resolution and we took part in order to protect civilians against a very imminent massacre. Now that campaign - that was the reason we did it - now that campaign is over, of course I would expect British companies to be - even today - British sales directors to be packing their suitcases and looking to get out to Libya and to take part in the reconstruction as soon as they can.

QUESTION: History shows us that when a prime minister gets involved in a successful military operation it rather encourages him to do more of it.

HAMMOND: Well, I think David Cameron was prepared to take a very bold decision to act to protect the Libyan people from an imminent disaster. We heard Colonel Gaddafi's threats to the population of Bengazi.

QUESTION: I'm wondering well it will encourage him to do it again, get more involved? Is this, sort of, interventionist policy rather strengthened?

HAMMOND: David Cameron is a very cautious and thoughtful person. I don't think there's any danger of him charging around in a gun-ho frame of mind, but he will look very carefully around the world, and if we see civilian populations being threatened, if we see people like Colonel Gaddafi who pose a real and present danger to the UK's own national security, then of course we will look to do what we can to end those situations.

Phillip Hammond was appointed as defence secretary following Liam Fox's resignation.

Addressing the SNP (Scottish National Party) conference on Saturday, party leader Alex Salmond, reaffirmed the party's commitment to independence, dismissing any assertion that Scottish nationalism could be placated with economic powers.

The SNP won a landslide victory in the last election and have pledged to hold a referendum on independence, most probably at the end of the Scotland's five year parliament.

See here for video clip.

Extracts from Salmond's address reproduced below:

"Fiscal responsibility, financial freedom, real economic powers is a legitimate proposal.

"It could allow control of our own resources, competitive business tax and fair personal taxation.

"All good, all necessary, but not enough."

"Even with economic powers, Trident nuclear missiles would still be on the Clyde, we could still be forced to spill blood in illegal wars, such as Iraq, and Scotland would still be excluded from the councils of Europe and the world.

"These things only independence can bring - which is why this party will campaign full square for independence in the coming referendum."

"We have the talent, the resources, the ingenuity.

"The only limitations are our imagination and our ambition. So give Scotland the tools, put the people of Scotland in charge and see our nation flourish as never before."

"Let's build a nation that reflects the values of our people.

"We are committed to winning independence for Scotland. And we are pledged to furtherance of all Scottish interests.

"Both are in our DNA. It's who we are and what we are for."

"The days of Westminster politicians telling Scotland what to do or what to think are over.

"The Scottish people will set the agenda for the future.

"No politician, and certainly no London politician, will determine the future of the Scottish nation.

"The prime minister should hear this loud and clear.

"The people of Scotland - the sovereign people of Scotland - are now in the driving seat."

See Majority of Britain's back Scottish independence - poll  (Oct 2011)

“Eta considers that the international conference held recently in the Euskal Herria [Basque Country] is an initiative of great political transcendence. The agreed resolution brings together the ingredients for an integrated solution to the conflict and has the support of large sectors of Basque society and of the international community.

In Euskal Herria, a new political age is opening. We face a historic opportunity to obtain a just and democratic solution to the age-old political conflict.

Faced with violence and repression, dialogue and agreement must characterise the new age. The recognition of Euskal Herria and respect for popular will must prevail over any imposition. This is the will of the majority of Basque citizens.”

The United States has held a meeting with representatives of the Haqqani militant network, the US Secretary of State, Hiliary Clinton revealed on Friday, during current talks in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Speaking to journalists in Pakistan, Clinton said,

"We believe that there is now an opportunity for us to begin talking, but there is no guarantee that the talking will result in anything that will move us toward a peaceful resolution."

"We are going to continue fighting where necessary to protect our interests, and so are the Pakistani military because you cannot allow terrorists to gain ground."

"But we are also open to talking. We have reached out to the Taliban, we have reached out to the Haqqani network to test their willingness and their sincerity."

"In fact, the Pakistani government officials helped to facilitate such a meeting."

"And we're now working among us -- Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States -- to try to put together a process that would sequence us toward an actual negotiation."

"we're not in any kind of negotiations. We've had one preliminary meeting just to see if they would show up."

The meeting is reported to have taken place this summer, before two signficant attacks on US troops in Afghanistan and on the US embassy in Kabul. The Haqqani network are believed to be responsible.

Clinton is currently leading a US delegation that includes CIA chief, David Patraeus and the new chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Gen Martin Dempsey.

"We don't believe any further guarantees are necessary."

"It's vital that there should be no impunity."

"We reject and refuse any immunity for the criminals. Immunity is against what the UN was founded upon."

"We came here to tell them that Ali Saleh and (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad are both criminals and they have to be held accountable and prosecuted."

"The attacks on peaceful protesters are crimes against humanity. Just like the civilians and the peaceful protesters were being killed in Libya and Egypt, they are being killed now in Yemen and elsewhere."

"I feel shame that I will be sleeping tonight in a hotel and my people will be sleeping in the streets… (but) I will stay in New York until the crimes of Ali Saleh are transferred to the International Criminal Court and until they freeze all his assets."

"These regimes are a danger to international security."

The speaker of the Guam Legislature has called on the UN to dispatch a special mission to help the native Chamorros gain self-determination.

In her speech Dr Judih Won Pat accused the US of Genocide and as the perpetrators of ‘the tyranny of colonisation’.

"For the past 50 years the Chamoru people, and other inhabitants of Guam, continue to bear witness to economic exploitation and political oppression by the incumbent administering power," she said.

Won Pat also said for about 500 years, "the Chamoru people endured ethnic and cultural genocide, forced labor, religious, and political oppression by three different sovereign nations".

"Self-determination is, after all, a fundamental inalienable right affirmed by the United Nations Charter. Assist the CHamoru people in bringing an end to the practice of colonialism in order that we may peaceably assemble and determine the political, economic, social, and cultural future of our people."

"May this committee rise and cast light upon those nation states that willfully violate the foundational principles of this great assembly for it is no longer proper to recognize the abused and not the abuser," Won Pat stated in her speech to the UN.

Guam has been an 'organised territory' of the United States since 1950, making the island, effectively, a US colony.

Read full testimony here.

Muammar Gaddafi was killed on Thursday during an attack by NTC fighters on Gaddafi's home town of Sirte.

Acting Prime Minister, Mahmoud Jibril, announced the death and confirmed that Gaddafi had been caught alive, but stated he had died of bullet wounds on route to hospital.

Video footage of his last moments have been broadcast across the world.

Leaders across the world have welcomed his demise as the beginning of a 'free Libya'.

Extracts from statements by leaders have been reproduced below.

See statements in full here.
 

US President Barack Obama

"For four decades, the Gaddafi regime ruled the Libyan people with an iron fist. Basic human rights were denied, innocent civilians were detained, beaten and killed. Libya's wealth was squandered. The enormous potential of the Libyan people was held back and terror was used as a political weapon."

"There will be difficult days ahead but the United States, together with the international community, is committed to the Libyan people."

"You have won your revolution and now we will be a partner as you forge a future that provides dignity, freedom and opportunity."