Heavy fire forces anti-Gaddafi fighters to retreat

LIBYA’S new regime fighters retreated yesterday under fire from Muammar Gaddafi diehards in his hometown Sirte as their leaders backtracked on an announcement that they had captured one of his sons.

The fighters, who had been hoping to mop up the last pockets of resistance in two northwestern residential districts, withdrew to the police headquarters they had captured on Tuesday.

Commanders of the forces loyal to the National Transitional Council (NTC) said the Gaddafi diehards were cornered within about two square kilometres of the Mediterranean city.