(Image source: The Telegraph)


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BY MARC STEIDLER
 
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Libyan transitional government forces say they’ve captured Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s son, Mutassim -- but they also say they haven’t captured him. Either way, euronews reports Libyans were quick to jump at the chance to celebrate.

"Celebratory bursts of machine-gun fire and fireworks light up the skies over Tripoli after news filtered through that Muammar Gaddafi’s son Mutassim has been captured.”

Some, like the Times of India, are reporting Mutassim Gaddafi’s capture.

But news of the capture was met with a healthy dose of skepticism. Al-Jazeera notes this wouldn’t be the first time a Gaddafi son was supposedly taken.

“I think it’s worth having a note of caution here -- because remember in the days when Tripoli was falling, there was that report that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi had been captured. Of course that turned out to be entirely untrue.”

Untrue. That’s exactly how a military commander inside Sirte describes reports of this capture to South Africa’s News 24.

“Muammar Gaddafi's son Mutassim remains on the run, denying an announcement by the political leadership in Tripoli that he was in custody.”

The Daily Mail suggests there’s plenty of reason for the interim government to report Mutassim Gaddafi’s capture -- whether it’s true or not.

“In what would be a propaganda coup for the rebel forces... the playboy was reportedly seized after a four-hour gun battle.”

As transitional government forces continue their siege of Sirte, a BBC correspondent says the reported capture would not be just a symbolic victory -- Muttasim Gaddafi was national security advisor to his father.

“The reported but unconfirmed capture of Muttasim Gaddafi is a huge boost for the transitional government. Muttasim, one of the colonel’s sons seen here in 2009, is thought to have led many of the military units defending Sirte.”

If the reports are true, Mutassim Gaddafi would be the only member of the Gaddafi family to have been captured so far, although there are reports two of his other sons have been killed in the uprisings.

Transcript by Newsy.

World News: Gaddafi's Son Captured

Confusion Clouds Reported Capture of Gaddafi's Son

October 13, 2011
(1:59)
Libyan transitional government can't get its story straight as different officials confirm and deny Mutassim Gaddafi's capture.
   
TRANSCRIPT

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