Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte 'falls' to NTC

Rebel Troops Celebrating Inside Sirte

Libyan National Transitional Council fighters say they have captured the last positions held by Muammar Gaddafi's loyalists in the deposed leader's hometown of Sirte.
"Sirte has been liberated. There are no Gaddafi forces any more," Colonel Yunus Al Abdali, head of operations in the
eastern half of the city, said on Thursday.
"We are now chasing his fighters who are trying to run away."
Another front line commander confirmed the capture of the Mediterranean coastal city, which was the last remaining
significant bastion of pro-Gaddafi fighters almost three months after the former leader was overthrown by NTC forces.


The AP news agency reported that the final push to capture the final parts of the city began around 0800 local time and was over after about 90 minutes.
Just before the assault, about five carloads of loyalists tried to flee the enclave down the coastal highway but were killed by NTC fighters.
NTC forces have been searching homes and buildings looking for any Gaddafi fighters who may be hiding there.

Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from Tripoli, said: "Some high level members [of the NTC] ... are aware of the pictures [of Sirte] being broadcast.
"They are on their phones right now to Sirte trying to confirm this. If it is true that Sirte has fallen, or is about to fall, then it is very very important news.
"Because all along the NTC has said that once Sirte falls, the war will be over."


Celebratory gunfire
At least 16 pro-Gaddafi fighters were captured, along with multiple cases of ammunition and trucks loaded with weapons. They were beaten up and later taken away in the back of trucks.
Celebratory gunfire echoed through the city, which fell into the hands of Libya's new rulers almost two full months after they overrun Tripoli and many other parts of the oil-rich North African nation.
Despite the fall of Tripoli on August 21, Gaddafi loyalists mounted fierce resistance in several areas, including Sirte, preventing Libya's new leaders from declaring full victory in the eight-month conflict.
Earlier this week, fighters gained control of one stronghold, Bani Walid, and by Tuesday said they had squeezed Gaddafi's forces in Sirte into a residential area of about 700 square metres.