Gaddafi Dead: Is Gaddafi, Qudafi, Quaddaffi, or Gadhafi Dead? (PICTURE)
With so many different spellings of the recently deceased former Libyan leader’s name, many readers have asked which is correct.
Gaddafi, Qudafi, Quaddaffi, Gadhafi are the most frequent spellings found in news articles. News reports today revealed the death of the autocrat, killed as thousands of rebel revolutionary fighters overran his loyalist stronghold in a 90-minute siege.
Making light of a serious situation, comedian Rob Delaney wrote on Twitter, “RIP Khaddafi. Also, RIP Quaddafi. And let us not forget: RIP Ghaddafi. And just to be safe, RIP Caddaphee.”
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In 2009, ABC News listed 112 ways to spell the name.
In February of this year, Time magazine reported that “Gaddafi” is the preferred spelling of the deceased Libyan man’s name.
“The reason the most common spelling of Gaddafi begins with a “g” is due to the Libyan dialect, which pronounces qoph like a “g” sound,” reported the magazine. “English translations of Arabic leaders’ names generally are consistent with their local dialects, rather than standard translation.”
Confirmation of the former leader’s death came after many conflicting reports about the attack in Sirte, which served as Gaddafi’s last refuge about 280 miles east of Tripoli. At first, it was unknown whether the 69-year-old was killed by a NATO airstrike or by Libyan revolutionaries who caught him trying to flee the city.
According to Libyan Information Minister Mahmoud Shammam, Gaddafi was riding in a convoy when it came under fire, and news reports indicated that he had been captured or wounded.
The Libyan television station Al-Ahrar reported on Thursday that revolutionary fighters had finally seized Sirte and in the process captured the long sought after Gaddafi.
Furthermore, a National Transitional Council official, Abdel Majid Mledgta, told Reuters that the former leader was captured and wounded in both legs early Thursday morning.
The official said, “He was also hit in his head. There was a lot of firing against his group and he died.”
A picture taken on a cell phone has been released by the AFP where the dead body resembles the former ruler.
Enthusiastic celebrations have erupted in the nation after the victory following an eight-month war backed by NATO. The streets of Tripoli are filled with horns blaring and celebratory gun shots into the air.
