Thousands of Tripoli visitors to be evacuated

THOUSANDS of foreigners trapped in Tripoli by rebel advances that have cut off the capital will be evacuated in a massive international rescue, probably by sea, an international body said.

After months of stalemate, rebels have transformed the battlefield this week by seizing Zawiyah, west of the capital, and cutting Tripoli off from the outside world, putting unprecedented pressure on dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s 41-year rule.

NATO war planes pounded targets in the capital overnight. Libyan officials brought journalists to a residential district where a compound of several large buildings was blasted to pieces. Neighbours said it belonged to Abdullah al-Senussi, Gaddafi’s brother-in-law and head of intelligence.