In Photos Celebration fills Tripoli as Libya Rebels Capture Capital

Photos: Libyans Celebrate as Rebels Take Tripoli

Sunday, August 21st, 2011

Gunfire and explosions were heard Sunday as Libyan rebels entered the Libyan capital of Tripoli — a day after making significant gains in their war against leader Muammar Gaddafi.

According to Al Jazeera, thousands of people flooded into Green Sqaure at the heart of the city to celebrate what they hoped to be the end of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi’s four-decade-long rule.

In the rebel capital of Benghazi, huge crowds also gathered in celebration.

On Sunday night, rebel leaders said that Gaddafi’s compound was surrounded, that his son Saif al-Islam had been captured and that his presidential guard had surrendered.

These are just of few of the images of the rebel forces as they pushed into Tripoli and the ensuing celebrations following their arrival.

Libyan rebel fighters celebrate as they drive through Tripoli's Qarqarsh district August 22, 2011.

(Bob Strong - Reuters)

Tens of thousands of Libyans celebrate the arrest of Kadhafi's son Saif al-islam and the partial fall of Tripoli in the hands of the Libyan rebels on August 21, 2011 in Benghazi, Libya.

(Gianluigi Guercaia - AFP/Getty Images)

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A Libyan man holds a flair on top of a building as tens of thousands of Libyans in Benghazi celebrate the arrest of Muammar Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, and the partial fall of Tripoli on August 21, 2011.

(Gianluigi Guercia - AFP/Getty Images)

A libyan rebels security forces member raises his rifle as tens of thousands of Libyans celebrate what the rebels claim to be the first uprising in Tripoli against the Kadhafi's regime on August 21, 2011 at freedom square in Benghazi, Libya.

(Gianluigi Guercaia - AFP/Getty Images)

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A rebel sprays graffiti depicting Muammar Gaddafi on a wall in Gadayem, just west of Tripoli, on August 21, 2011.

(Filippo Monteforte - AFP/Getty Images)

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Libyan rebels take position during fighting against forces loyal to Col. Muammar Gaddafi at the Gadayem forest, west of Tripoli, on August 21, 2011.

(Filippo Monteforte - AFP/Getty Images)

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A Libyan rebel fighter stands in front of a closed shop in the embattled city of Zawiya, about 25 miles west of Tripoli, on August 18, 2011.

(Marc Hofer - AFP/Getty Images)

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A Libyan man gets down on his knees to pray as tens of thousands of Libyans celebrate on August 21, 2011 in Benghazi, Libya.

(Gianluigi Guercia - AFP/Getty Images)

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Tens of thousands of Libyans in Benghazi celebrate news of the arrest of Muammar Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, and the partial capture of Tripoli by Libyan rebels on August 21, 2011.

(Gianluigi Guercia - AFP/Getty Images)

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A Libyan rebel fires his rifle in the air as tens of thousands of Libyans celebrate on August 21, 2011 in Benghazi, Libya.

(Gianluigi Guercia - AFP/Getty Images)

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Prisoners are seen after being freed from a jail in Maya by rebel forces on August 21, 2011. Explosions and gunfire rocked Tripoli as the months-long uprising pushed through the gates of the Libyan capital.

(Filippo Monteforte - AFP/Getty Images)

A rebel shoulders an RPG in Gadayem, west of the capital Tripoli, on August 21, 2011.

(Filippo Monteforte - AFP/Getty Images)

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A Libyan rebel wounded during the battle for the control of the Brega flashes a victory sign as he is rushed into the emergency room at the general hospital in Ajdabiya, on July 17, 2011.

(Gianluigi Guercia - AFP/Getty Images)

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Libyan rebels and civilians perform the weekly Muslim Friday noon prayer at Freedom Square in the rebel stronghold of Benghazi on August 19, 2011.

(Gianluigi Guercia - AFP/Getty Images)

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Libyan rebels celebrate after gaining positions against regime forces in Zawiya, some 40 kms west of Tripoli, on August 19, 2011.

(Florent Marice - AFP/Getty Images)

Rebel fighters walk along a residential street in the Libyan capital Tripoli, on August 22, 2011, as heavy fighting raged near the Tripoli compound of embattled Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi, while jubilant rebel forces surged into the symbolic heart of the capital.

(Filippo Monteforte - AFP/Getty Images)

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A Libyan man in Benghazi holds a firework as tens of thousands of Libyans celebrate what the rebels claim to be the first uprising in Tripoli against the Gaddafi's regime on August 21, 2011 at Freedom Square in Benghazi.

(Gianluigi Guercia - AFP/Getty Images)

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Libyan rebels raise their guns in celebration as they drive through the main road leading to Zawiya, 40 kms west of Tripoli, on August 20, 2011.

(Filippo Monteforte - AFP/Getty Images)

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Libyan rebels celebrate as they gain positions against regime forces in the city of Zawiya, almost 40 kms west of Tripoli, on August 19, 2011.

(Filippo Monteforte - AFP/Getty Images)

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Libyan rebels cheer as they drive past an army tank in Zawiya, some 40 kms west of Tripoli, on August 20, 2011.

(Filippo Monteforte - AFP/Getty Images)

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Libyan rebel fighters take cover during the battle for the control of Zawiya against regime forces loyal to Col. Muammar Gaddafi on August 19, 2011.

(Florent Marice - AFP/Getty Images)

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Libyan rebels take position during fighting against forces loyal to Col. Muammar Gaddafi near the Gadayem forest, west of Tripoli, on August 21, 2011.

(Filippo Monteforte - AFP/Getty Images)

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