An estimated 50,000 people have perished in the Libyan uprising against Muammar Gaddafi, a military commander with the country's ruling transitional council said on Tuesday.
"About 50,000 people have been killed since the beginning of the uprising," said Colonel Hisham Buhagiar, commander of the anti-Gaddafi troops that took Tripoli a week ago.
The rebels seized Tripoli on August 22 and now control the vast majority of the country. Gaddafi's current whereabouts are still known. A $1.7 million reward has been promised for him.
"In Misrata and Zlitan between 15,000 and 17,000 were killed and Jebel Nafusa [the Western Mountains] saw a lot of casualties. We liberated about 28,000 prisoners. We presume that all those missing are dead," he said.
"Then there was Ajdabiyah, Brega. Many people were killed there too," he said, referring to towns repeatedly fought over in eastern Libya.
More than 30 countries, including the United States, have already recognized the legitimacy of Libya's National Transitional Council.
