Spanish Foreign Minister reacts to Gadhafi's death

After learning of the death of former Libyan leader, Muammar Gadhafi, Spain's Foreign Minister, Trinidad Jiménez, has appealed for reconciliation and offered Spain's assistance in the forthcoming peace process in Libya.  She also called for those responsible for crimes to be made accountable.

"Spain has already offered its help to the National Transitional Council" in the democratic transition, in the elections and in matters of security, said the minister, who announced that Spain will do everything it can to ensure that this transition occurs in a peaceful manner and "as quickly as possible."

In an official statement issued shortly after the death of Colonel Gadhafi at the hands of rebels in his home town of Sirte, Jiménez said that making people accountable for their crimes should not be incompatible with reconciliation.

She also appealed to the Libyan people to drive the transitional government forward and decide their own future, through constitutional law and elections.  She highlighted that in the constitution needs to accommodate all religions, ideologies and beliefs.

When asked by reporters in Málaga about the circumstances surrounding the death of former Libyan leader, she confirmed the official version of events, as issued by a spokesman for the National Transitional Council of Libya - that Gadhafi's death occurred in Sirte, where he was found hiding in a cell. There was an exchange of gunfire between the rebel army and his personal guard and the former leader was "caught in the crossfire" and subsequently died of his wounds.

For his part, the PP's Foreign Ministry spokesman in Congress, Gustavo de Aristegui, believes that it would have been desirable that for Muammar Gadhafi to have been captured and tried for the "serious" crimes he has committed, but that the disappearance of this "bloodthirsty monster" helps stabilise the country.