Anti-Gaddafi Forces Make Fresh Gains In Sirte
Anti-Gaddafi forces claim to be on the verge of taking full control of the dictator's home town of Sirte.
Fighters loyal to the ruling National Transitional Council say they have have seized a conference centre and university, as well as taking control of the Mediterranean town's hospital.
The fortress-like Ouagadougou conference centre, constructed to host pan-African summits, has been a major target for NTC forces since they launched a September 15 offensive on Sirte.
"We control 100% of the Ouagadougou centre," said Mohammed al Fayad, an NTC military chief, adding the capture "opens the way" for his forces to overrun the city centre.
Fighters loyal to the ruling National Transitional Council say they have have seized a conference centre and university, as well as taking control of the Mediterranean town's hospital.
The fortress-like Ouagadougou conference centre, constructed to host pan-African summits, has been a major target for NTC forces since they launched a September 15 offensive on Sirte.
"We control 100% of the Ouagadougou centre," said Mohammed al Fayad, an NTC military chief, adding the capture "opens the way" for his forces to overrun the city centre.
"We are ready to take the centre" of Sirte "within a matter of hours," said Fayad. "It is only a question of coordination... We just need time."
As he spoke, NTC fighters spread throughout the sprawling complex, tearing down portraits of Col Gaddafi, who remains on the run, and the green flags of his fallen 42-year regime.
They later advanced another kilometre north along streets littered with debris and lined by pock-marked buildings towards the heart of the city.
NTC fighters also took control of the town's Ibn Sina hospital. A massive firefight broke out near the hospital late on Sunday with intense machine gun and rocket fire.
At a Gaddafi palace about 500 metres from the hospital, partly destroyed by NATO air raids according to the NTC fighters, a group of men jumped up and down on a four-poster bed.
Sky correspondent Alex Rossi, reporting from the front line, said that despite the celebrations it had been a "costly advance".
He said: "They're throwing everything they've got at Sirte in what they're calling the final push.
"They have covered a large area of open land between the road and Sirte, which was acting as a buffer.
"Although the revolutionaries have gained ground they have lost many men."
The ferocity of Gaddafi forces' resistance in Sirte and their other main bastion, Bani Walid, has surprised the new regime, with NTC chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil admitting the battle was "very vicious."
Medics say 32 NTC fighters have been killed and almost 420 wounded since Friday, when they launched what they have been calling their final assault on Sirte.
Thousands of civilians were still trapped in the city, and NTC commanders said they have been pacing their advance to evacuate some of those who had not fled and to avoid losses from friendly fire.
As he spoke, NTC fighters spread throughout the sprawling complex, tearing down portraits of Col Gaddafi, who remains on the run, and the green flags of his fallen 42-year regime.
They later advanced another kilometre north along streets littered with debris and lined by pock-marked buildings towards the heart of the city.
NTC fighters also took control of the town's Ibn Sina hospital. A massive firefight broke out near the hospital late on Sunday with intense machine gun and rocket fire.
At a Gaddafi palace about 500 metres from the hospital, partly destroyed by NATO air raids according to the NTC fighters, a group of men jumped up and down on a four-poster bed.
Sky correspondent Alex Rossi, reporting from the front line, said that despite the celebrations it had been a "costly advance".
He said: "They're throwing everything they've got at Sirte in what they're calling the final push.
"They have covered a large area of open land between the road and Sirte, which was acting as a buffer.
"Although the revolutionaries have gained ground they have lost many men."
The ferocity of Gaddafi forces' resistance in Sirte and their other main bastion, Bani Walid, has surprised the new regime, with NTC chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil admitting the battle was "very vicious."
Medics say 32 NTC fighters have been killed and almost 420 wounded since Friday, when they launched what they have been calling their final assault on Sirte.
Thousands of civilians were still trapped in the city, and NTC commanders said they have been pacing their advance to evacuate some of those who had not fled and to avoid losses from friendly fire.
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