Civilians forced out of Gaddafi hometown as clashes intensify

CIVILIANS pouring out of Muammar Gaddafi’s hometown Sirte said the horror of the battle for the city finally forced them to conquer their fear of the besieging new regime forces and leave.

The exodus comes as a commander of National Transitional Council (NTC) forces besieging the other loyalist bastion of Bani Walid said Gaddafi’s son Seif al-Islam was directing the last stand.

Vehicles crammed with families and piled high with possessions queued at the succession of checkpoints on the coastal highway out of Sirte to have their identities and belongings checked.

NTC fighters manning the checkpoints made no secret of their disdain for the residents of a city which was so privileged under the ousted regime and where loyalty to the Gaddafis ran deep.

Farak Mussa, whose blue minivan was carrying his family of eight jammed in with possessions, said he had held out for fear of the NTC fighters but the ferocity of the clashes forced him to move.

“We were afraid to come out because they (Gaddafi loyalists) told us that the NTC would cut our throats.

“But we couldn’t stay because of the bombing — we had to take the risk. Why is NATO bombing us?” he asked.

The alliance said it carried out no strikes in Sirte on Monday, although it struck targets around the city the previous day.

There was fierce fighting on the front line on the western side of Sirte on Monday after what NTC forces said was barrage against their positions by forces inside the city.

A Red Cross team managed to deliver some desperately needed medical supplies into Sirte on Monday.

But the persistent exchanges prevented it from carrying out a more detailed assessment of the needs, they said.

Picture: Libya's National Transitional Council tank fires at pro-Gaddafi militia during heavy battles in the western front lines of Sirte. Picture: Xinhua/AP