How many years did Moammar Gadhafi rule Libya?

In Libya, the country’s temporary leaders are gathering in the eastern city of Benghazi to officially declare the country’s freedom from the 42-year rule of Moammar Gadhafi. Huge crowds are expected to gather for Sunday’s announcement. The city was the center of the anti-Gadhafi uprising that began in February and ended when he was killed on Thursday in his hometown of Sirte. Rights groups have called for an investigation into a mobile phone video that shows National Transitional Council fighters beating the wounded Gadhafi shortly before he died. Libyan doctors examined his body in the city of Misrata on Sunday and said he died of gunshot wounds to the head and abdomen. It is not clear who fired the shots that killed him. Libyan officials have said he was shot in a crossfire between his loyalists and NTC forces.
                                                VOA (standard version) 2011 -10-24