Libya rebels punch into Sirte as civilians flee

NEAR SIRTE: NTC forces swept further into Sirte on Saturday as at least 6,000 fighters battled in and around the hometown of fugitive Moamer Qadhafi, one of the ousted Libyan leader's last strongholds.

At a checkpoint some 30 kilometres west of the town, Commander Salem Jeha, a member of Misrata Military Council, told AFP: "We are now concentrated in a handful of buildings in the city and on the outskirts including Wadi Abu Hadi where Qadhafi's forces are concentrated."

Sirte airport came under complete control of National Transitional Council combatants late on Friday, he said, adding that there was "no possibility for them ( Qadhafi's forces) to continue their resistance."

At the Gate 30 checkpoint, truckloads of ammunition could be seen heading towards the front, along with more pick-ups bearing fighters and anti-aircraft guns.

Jeha said there were some 1,200 NTC armed vehicles plus the thousands of fighters, mostly from Misrata, in the Sirte area.

"There may be houses and pockets of resistance, but they will not be able to overcome the rebels' massive forces," he said, adding that he had received reports that half of the city's civilians had fled.

The attacking fighters were trying to prevent civilian loss of life and were not seeking revenge: "We are not using heavy weapons except to protect our rebels when they are targeted."

Jeha added: "This matter is sealed, it's over. Our focus will now shift to free the south."

Lieutenant Abdel Wahid al-Aguri, a former regular officer, said: "We are now in control of the highway and the southern part of the city."

He added that the national army would continue to back and protect volunteer fighter brigades leading the Sirte offensive, but admitted there were some coordination issues between different forces on the battlefield.

"This is a weird battle, because in the traditional army there are clear orders whereas here we cannot coordinate closely," he said.

Aguri said rebels had so far held back from firing their heaviest weapons, which include cannon and Grad rockets that are readily available, in a bid to minimise loss of life and damage to property.

A pick-up truck arrived at the Gate 30 checkpoint bearing three prisoners whom the NTC forces said were Qadhafi snipers, an AFP correspondent reported.

One prisoner, an old man showed signs of having been beaten, with blood streaming from his temple.

The youngest prisoner managed to blurt out to AFP that he was 19 as an angry crowd of fighters ringed the vehicle and tried to beat the three. Others held them back, however, shouting that there were media present.

"Sahafa, sahafa (journalists, journalists)" they yelled.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011