Battle continues for control of Sirte
Libya’s new regime fighters launched a final assault on Moamer Kadhafi’s hometown of Sirte on Saturday. National Transitional Council forces closed in around the Ouagadougou conference centre, where Kadhafi diehards put up stiff resistance.
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Particularly fierce fighting took place around and inside the university, and the city centre. Hundreds of fighters entered the city after heavy artillery over the course of the morning.
As they advanced into the city, NTC fighters came under mortar, machinegun and sniper fire, but managed to secure control of a 700-home complex west of the centre.
Nato warplanes flew overhead, but no air strikes were reported.
The Misrata Military Council said that at least 12 fighters were killed and 193 wounded, amid heavy fighting on Friday.
Defence Minister Jalal al-Digheily said on Friday that he was confident that the end of the conflict was near.
“We are very close to the end of the war and peace will be restored all over Libya,” al-Digheily told reporters in Tripoli.
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