Leaders of some NATO nations bask in Kadafi’s demise

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REPORTING FROM LONDON -- Leaders of several North Atlantic Treaty Organization member nations were basking Thursday in former Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi’s demise.

“People in Libya today have an even greater chance after this news of building themselves a strong and democratic future,” British Prime Minister David Cameron said outside 10 Downing St. “I’m proud of the role that Britain has played in helping them to bring that about, and I pay tribute to the bravery of Libyans who helped to liberate their country.”

Cameron had taken a political risk by leading the push alongside French President Nicolas Sarkozy for a NATO-enforced no-fly zone in the name of a U.N. mandate to protect civilians from Kadafi loyalists. Throughout the seven-month operation, the alliance in essence served as the anti-Kadafi fighters’ air force, crippling the strongman’s forces and installations with relentless sorties that at times came close to killing him as well.

PHOTOS: Moammar Kadafi | 1942 - 2011

Sarkozy called Kadafi’s death a milestone in the Libyan people’s battle “to free themselves from the dictatorial and violent regime that was imposed on them for more than 40 years,” according to the Associated Press.

Even Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, once so friendly with Kadafi that he was photographed kissing the Libyan leader’s hand, expressed no regret over his death.

“Sic transit gloria mundi,” Berlusconi was quoted as saying, Latin for “Thus passes the glory of the world.” He added, “Now the war is finished.”

In Washington, President Obama said the day belonged to the Libyan people.

‘One year ago, the notion of a free Libya seemed impossible. But then the Libyan people rose up and demanded their rights,’ Obama said in remarks in the Rose Garden. “Today we can definitively say the Kadafi regime has come to an end.... One of the world’s longest-serving dictators is no more.”

Obama also paid tribute to the American military personnel and diplomats who took part in the Libya intervention.

‘Without putting a single U.S. service member on the ground, we achieved our objectives, and our NATO mission will soon come to an end,’ Obama said.

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-- Henry Chu in London

Alexandra Zavis in Los Angeles contributed to this report.