Gadhafi buried in secret location

Associated Press

MISRATA, Libya

Flamboyant and grandiose in life, Moammar Gadhafi was buried in secrecy and anonymity, laid to rest in an unmarked grave before dawn in the Libyan desert that was home to his Bedouin tribal ancestors.

The burial ended the gruesome spectacle of Gadhafi’s decaying corpse on public display in a cold- storage locker at a Misrata warehouse for four days after he was killed in his hometown of Sirte on Oct. 20.

The location of the brutal dictator’s grave site was not disclosed by the interim government for fear of vandalism by his foes and veneration by his die-hard supporters.

Gadhafi, 69, was buried Tuesday along with his son Muatassim and former Defense Minister Abu Bakr Younis after the military council in the city of Misrata ordered a reluctant Muslim cleric to say the required prayers.

Under international pressure to investigate the circumstances of Gadhafi’s death, the interim leaders of the National Transitional Council issued a statement late Tuesday saying they “disapprove” of any prisoner’s being hurt, let alone killed. It was the first time the new leadership spoke out against Gadhafi’s killing.