Anas Asswaie waved a Libyan flag and wore an expressive smile Thursday afternoon on the steps of the Colorado Capitol.
“We are so, so happy for this day,” said the 29-year-old Libyan on the death of dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Dozens of expatriates and their supporters celebrated at the Capitol for the hardfought freedom of Libyans, capped by the death of the dictator announced earlier in the day, and the end of his 42-year reign.
Asswaie left his Misrata home two years to ago study English at Denver’s New America School and said he won’t go home again for another two years. “I talked to my sister today, and she said I would not believe what’s been going on there today,” he said.
Asswaie said his father left the Libyan army in 1979 because of Gadhafi: “He always said, ‘Gadhafi is an evil man,’ ” mentioning the friends and family who had died because of Gadhafi and the rebellion to overthrow him. “Everyone has lost someone.” Joey Bunch, The Denver Post
