Fierce fighting for Sirte
- 13 years ago
Libyan National Transitional Council forces fight street by street for control of Muammar Gaddafi's hometown, Sirte.
Pro-NTC soldiers have been battling for the town on three fronts, the west, the south and the east entrances.
But they have been advancing slowly.
East of Sirte, NTC fighters celebrated the capture of the town of Herawa.
Their feelings about the toppled leader clear.
Later, a mosque where they had set up a base came under heavy fire.
Ambulances sped from the front line to a field hospital were doctors could treat the wounded.
About 2 km west of the centre of Sirte, pro and anti-Gaddafi forces exchanged fire.
As dusk fell, NTC forces pulled back.
One fighter explained why.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ANTI-GADDAFI FIGHTER, KHALIFAH AHMED, SAYING:
"This pulling out is a tactic to give space to the families to go out safely. And the situation is fine. Half of the city is controlled by the rebels."
With Gaddafi still at large and fighting raging in the seven-month war, Libya's interim council cannot declare the nation "liberated" and begin the process of holding elections.
Marie-Claire Fennessy, Reuters
Pro-NTC soldiers have been battling for the town on three fronts, the west, the south and the east entrances.
But they have been advancing slowly.
East of Sirte, NTC fighters celebrated the capture of the town of Herawa.
Their feelings about the toppled leader clear.
Later, a mosque where they had set up a base came under heavy fire.
Ambulances sped from the front line to a field hospital were doctors could treat the wounded.
About 2 km west of the centre of Sirte, pro and anti-Gaddafi forces exchanged fire.
As dusk fell, NTC forces pulled back.
One fighter explained why.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ANTI-GADDAFI FIGHTER, KHALIFAH AHMED, SAYING:
"This pulling out is a tactic to give space to the families to go out safely. And the situation is fine. Half of the city is controlled by the rebels."
With Gaddafi still at large and fighting raging in the seven-month war, Libya's interim council cannot declare the nation "liberated" and begin the process of holding elections.
Marie-Claire Fennessy, Reuters