President Barack Obama says the death of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi marks a “momentous day” and it’s now up to the Libyan people to create their own destiny. Speaking in the Rose Garden, President Obama said it marks the end of a long and painful chapter in Libya’s history. He said the U.S. involvement in the NATO mission will soon come to an end.

The ousted dictator was shot while trying to avoid capture near his hometown of Sirte. Vice President Joe Biden said, “NATO got it right.”

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says “the world is a better place” with the death of former Gaddafi.

NATO says it hit a convoy of Gadhafi’s loyalists fleeing Sirte on Thursday morning but it could not confirm early whether the ousted Libyan leader was in the convoy or possibly killed or captured.

Information Minister Mahmoud Shammam says he has confirmed that Gadhafi was dead from fighters who said they saw the body. He says he expects the prime minister to confirm the death soon, noting that past reports emerged “before making 100 percent confirmation.”

ABC posted this photograph of his capture.

Libyan fighters captured Gaddafi’s home town of Sirte on Thursday after a two-month siege, extinguishing the last significant resistance by forces loyal to Gaddafi.

Widespread media reports say fighters located a bunker underneath Gaddafi’s house.

Here’s video from the UK on the bunker found Thursday.