Rebels move into central Tripoli

21 August 2011 Last updated at 20:24 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.

Crowds cheered them, waving flags and firing salutes. Green Square has been resounding with celebrations

The rebels reportedly captured Muammar Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam as the leader himself vowed to fight on.

International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he had been informed of the arrest.

The court has indicted Saif for torturing and killing civilians. Another of Col Gaddafi’s sons, Muhammad, was also detained, according to rebel sources.

Fighting is continuing in other parts of the city. The BBC’s correspondent in Tripoli, Matthew Price, says the rebels appear to be trying to take control of the hotel where he and other journalists have been staying.

Col Gaddafi is believed to still have thousands of armed followers in the capital although reports suggest a number of them have surrendered 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.”

Safe passage offer

TV footage showed Libyans kneeling and kissing the ground of Tripoli in gratitude for what some called a “blessed day”.

During the day, one force of rebels had pushed in from the west while another set up checkpoints on the eastern outskirts.

It is clear there have been bloody battles in parts of Tripoli, the BBC’s Matthew Price reports from the city.

The Libyan 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 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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