Berlusconi comments on Gaddafi's death: "the war is over"

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday used a Latin phrase to comment on the death of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, saying that everything is transitory. "Sic transit gloria mundi," or "So the glory of this world passes away," said Berlusconi, according to local news media. He also said "the war is over." Gaddafi was reportedly shot to death after being captured in Sirte, his hometown that fell to transitional government troops who have been fighting Gaddafi's men for eight months. Local media reports said Berlusconi had a close relationship with Gaddafi and invited the then Libyan leader as a guest to the summit of Group of 8 industrialized nations in July 2009 in Aquila, Italy. Berlusconi was at pains to participate in military strikes against the man whose hand he kissed during a visit to Libya and Gaddafi described Berlusconi as a traitor after Nato started bombing Libyan targets in March, the reports said.