Local reactions to Gadhafi's death

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Ousted Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi died Thursday when revolutionary fighters overwhelmed his hometown of Sirte and captured the last major bastion of resistance.

The 69-year-old is the first leader to be killed in the wave of popular uprisings that swept the Middle East, demanding the end of autocratic rulers and the establishment of greater democracy.

Gadhafi's death may be a relief for the families of 189 Americans killed in the explosion of Pan Am flight #103.

A Libyan intelligence agent was convicted of bombing the plane, just before Christmas in 1988. Some families suspect Gadhafi himself was involved.

Locally those familiar with Libya and its government say they knew Gadhafi's regime had to end. Dr. Ahmed Noor, a trustee of the Hampton Mosque and Islamic Center, has renewed hope for the country.

"I would hope that the leadership in Libya will respect the different points of view, the different political views and establish justice between all people," Noor said.

But Dr. Carol Pretlow,, a political science professor at Norfolk State University, thinks an unstable future is not out of the question for Libya.

Pretlow explained, "There's also the possibility of further conflict so that may be what we have to be aware of and we might have to look to NATO to solidify things there."

Although Gahdafi is dead, Pretlow added there's infighting among factions in the oil rich nation.

"In a country that is in turmoil you're almost building from the ground up. So naturally you don't want to overlook the people, but here you have a situation where you have 2 opposing groups," Pretlow said.

Experts think Libya should establish good relations with both NATO and the United States in its quest for democracy.