Rebels advance deep into Tripoli

21 August 2011 Last updated at 19:11 ET

A convoy of Libyan rebels has rolled into central Tripoli past celebrating crowds after a day of heavy fighting in and around the capital.

They appeared to meet little resistance and civilians emerged to cheer them, waving flags and firing celebratory shots as they passed in their pick-ups.

Video from the city apparently shows the rebels celebrating on Green Square.

Col Muammar Gaddafi has vowed again to defeat them.

The rebels have reportedly captured two of his sons: Saif al-Islam, a well-known figure in the West who heads the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation, and Muhammad, who heads the Libyan Olympic committee.

Col Gaddafi is believed to still have thousands of armed followers in the capital but other reports suggest a number of them have been surrendering to the rebels.

Libyan Information Minister Moussa Ibrahim said fighting in Tripoli since noon (10:00 GMT) on Sunday had left 1,300 people dead and 5,000 wounded, and added that hospitals could not cope with the casualties.

Rebel forces advanced from the east and west in recent days, backed by Nato aircraft enforcing a UN resolution to protect civilians.

The UK Government said on Sunday night: “It is clear from the scenes we are witnessing in Tripoli that the end is near for Gaddafi. He has committed appalling crimes against the people of Libya and he must go now to avoid any further suffering for his own people.”

Urging Col Gaddafi to step down, the US state department said: “Clearly the offensive for Tripoli is under way.”

‘Green Square tonight’

As one force of rebels pushed in from the west, another was setting up checkpoints in suburbs on the eastern outskirts.

Rebel fighter Mohammed al-Zawi told AP he had been in a convoy of more than 10 lorries that entered the district of Ghot Shaal on the western edge of the city.

They advanced as far as the district of Girgash, about 2km from Green Square, the traditional rallying-point for Gaddafi loyalists over the years, when they came under sniper fire from a rooftop.

“They will enter Green Square tonight, God willing,” he added.

Later reports suggested the rebels had actually reached the square.

It is clear there have been bloody battles in parts of Tripoli, the BBC’s Matthew Price reports from the city. In areas where the fighting has not been taking place, people are said to be staying indoors, our correspondent adds.

Gun battles raged near a hotel used by foreign journalists.

Unconfirmed rebel reports say a group of fighters slipped into Tripoli by sea from Misrata and engaged pro-Gaddafi forces in the city’s eastern Tajoura district, where clashes between opponents and supporters of Col Gaddafi have been reported since Saturday.

Unrest was also reported in the eastern districts of Soug Jomaa and Arada.

Earlier on Sunday, rebels west of Tripoli captured the base of the Khamis Brigade, one of the best-trained and equipped units in the Libyan military, commanded by a son of Col Gaddafi.

Safe passage offer

The information minister insisted the government was “very resilient”. “We have thousands and thousands of fighters,” he said.

He accused Nato of backing “armed gangs” with air power, and added that a further 376 people had been killed and almost 900 injured in fighting on Saturday. The figures could not be verified independently.

Mr Ibrahim added that the Gaddafi government was prepared to negotiate directly with the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) but later on Sunday, Col Gaddafi issued a call on state TV for his supporters to “cleanse” Tripoli of rebels.

“How come allow Tripoli, the capital, to be under occupation once again?” he asked. “The traitors are paving the way for the occupation forces to be deployed in Tripoli.”

NTC chairman Mustafa Mohammed Abdul Jalil said the rebels would halt their offensive if Col Gaddafi announced his departure.

Speaking about Said al-Islam Gaddafi’s reported capture, he said he was “being kept in a secure place under close guard until he is handed over to the judiciary”.

He added that rebel forces would give Col Gaddafi and his sons safe passage out of the country.

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