Libyan forces enter Gaddafi’s hometown
Thick black smoke billowed into the air as National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters battled loyalist troops at a roundabout about 2km from the centre of the deposed leader’s home town, Reuters journalists said.
The thud of large explosions could be heard as NATO aircraft roared overhead. NTC fighters said the jets were striking the positions of Gaddafi loyalists.
NATO would not comment on its operations in Sirte yesterday. It said its planes hit eight targets on Sunday, including ammunition stores and rocket launchers.
Anti-Gaddafi fighters west of Sirte had driven to within a few hundred meters of its centre on Saturday before pulling back on Sunday to make way for NATO strikes. On the west of Sirte yesterday, NTC tanks shelled loyalist positions in the centre.
Libya’s de facto prime minister said yesterday thatNATO should continue operations as long as Gaddafi’s loyalists are killing civilians, and the toppled leader still could destabilise the region.
UN Security Council resolution 1973, passed in March, called for protection of civilians by all available means, leading NATO to launch a campaign of air strikes that played a major role in helping rebels overthrow Gaddafi last month.
Asked later by reporters when the Western alliance should end its operations, Jibril said, “When there is no killing (of) civilians in Libya.” NATO agreed last week to extend its air-and-sea campaign in Libya for up to 90 days.
Gaddafi loyalists continue to fight the forces of the NTC in several Libyan cities.
“Gaddafi is still at large. He has a lot of assets — money, gold,” Jibril told the Security Council.
“The simple fact of thinking that he’s still free and he has at his disposal such wealth means that he is still able to destabilise the situation, not only within my country but also in the region of the Sahel in the African desert.”
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