U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday that the reported death of Libya's ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of Libya, but there's still a long road to democracy for the country.

"Today we can definitively say that the Gaddafi regime has come to an end," Obama said in a statement delivered at the White House.

The "dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted," and the Libyan people "now have the opportunity to determine their own destiny," he said.

However, there will be difficult days ahead for the Libyan people, the president cautioned, adding that the North Africa country will "travel a long road to democracy."