Libyan forces advance on Sirte

LIBYAN transitional government forces said yesterday they had captured the university and a conference center in Muammar Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte, but were holding off an assault on the main square to let civilians escape.

Taking Sirte would bring Libya’s new rulers a big step closer to establishing control of the whole country almost two months after they seized the capital Tripoli, but Gaddafi snipers are holding up their advance in chaotic street battles.

“We have made good progress,” said Mahmoud Bayu, commander of the Shohada Al-Manatair brigade, to the south of Sirte.