Civilians flee Sirte as Italian FM arrives
- 13 years ago
With their belongings squeezed into a truck, this family is just one of many fleeing the besieged city of Sirte.
Aid agencies say the prolonged battle for Gaddafi's former hometown is creating a looming humanitarian disaster.
Each side accuses the other of endangering civilians as casualties rise and supplies of water, electricity and food shrink.
Residents escaping the city said the situation was desperate.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OMAR MAHJOUB, SIRTE RESIDENT, ASKED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN SIRTE, SAYING:
"Lack of electricity, lack of food, lack of basics form small children. The situation is bad, bad, bad. Earlier today we were attacked. We were attacked directly by Gaddafi troops. This car is full of family members. We ran away because of them."
Interim government forces recaptured the airport on Thursday but the renewed fighting has increased the flow of civilians out of the city - and prevented many organisations from sending aid workers.
Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini arrived in Tripoli for a series of meetings with Libya's interim leaders - including de facto Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril.
Italy, once Libya's closest Western ally froze around 7 billion euros of Libyan assets as part of sanctions against Gaddafi.
Frattini says he is hoping to unblock some of that money once new EU regulations are issued.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters
Aid agencies say the prolonged battle for Gaddafi's former hometown is creating a looming humanitarian disaster.
Each side accuses the other of endangering civilians as casualties rise and supplies of water, electricity and food shrink.
Residents escaping the city said the situation was desperate.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) OMAR MAHJOUB, SIRTE RESIDENT, ASKED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN SIRTE, SAYING:
"Lack of electricity, lack of food, lack of basics form small children. The situation is bad, bad, bad. Earlier today we were attacked. We were attacked directly by Gaddafi troops. This car is full of family members. We ran away because of them."
Interim government forces recaptured the airport on Thursday but the renewed fighting has increased the flow of civilians out of the city - and prevented many organisations from sending aid workers.
Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini arrived in Tripoli for a series of meetings with Libya's interim leaders - including de facto Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril.
Italy, once Libya's closest Western ally froze around 7 billion euros of Libyan assets as part of sanctions against Gaddafi.
Frattini says he is hoping to unblock some of that money once new EU regulations are issued.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters