Gaddafi captured, says Libyan TV, but is he alive?

Toppled Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi has been captured by rebel troops, according to reports on the country’s state television. It is still not clear whether he is alive.

Conflicting reports say variously that his condition is unknown, that he has been wounded in both legs, and/or that he has been killed.

Amid confusing scenes in the city of Sirte, which fell to troops of the National Transitional Council after a two-month siege today, reports suggested Gaddafi had been seized, wounded in both legs, after trying to flee in a convoy targeted by Nato.

Other reports suggested that Gaddafi had died from wounds suffered during his capture.

In a statement on NTC-controlled state television, a presenter draped in the flag of liberated Libya said: “Gaddafi is in the hands of the rebels. Gaddafi personally is in the hands of the rebels.

“We have captured Gaddafi. Libya is joyous, Libya is celebrating, Libya has given a lesson to all those who want to learn.

“I salute you, rebels. I salute you, revolutionaries. You have captured this criminal who has killed the mothers of the martyrs.”