LIBYA: Government forces take control of Gaddafi military airbase his son Saadi's military camp in Sirte and a five-star hotel owned by the Gaddafi family
Record ID:
345973
LIBYA: Government forces take control of Gaddafi military airbase his son Saadi's military camp in Sirte and a five-star hotel owned by the Gaddafi family
- Title: LIBYA: Government forces take control of Gaddafi military airbase his son Saadi's military camp in Sirte and a five-star hotel owned by the Gaddafi family
- Date: 7th October 2011
- Summary: SIRTE, LIBYA (OCTOBER 6, 2011) (REUTERS) SIRTE CITY AS SEEN FROM THE ROOF OF THE "SIRTE HOTEL" IN SIRTE THAT HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY ANTI-GADDAFI REBELS ANTI-GADDAFI SNIPERS ON TOP OF HOTEL/AUDIO OF GUNFIRE SNIPERS COMING UNDER FIRE AND DUCKING DOWN SNIPER TALKING ON HIS WALKIE-TALKIE LOBBY OF HOTEL AND ANTI-GADDAFI FORCES FIGHTERS SITTING ON A COUCH AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE HOTEL CLOSE UP OF FIGHTER PLAQUE ON THE RECEPTION DESK NTC FIGHTERS IN THE LOBBY OF THE HOTEL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) NTC FIGHTER ALI HASSAN AL-OBEIDI, SAYING: "He used it only for his conferences and then closed it afterwards. The people never got any use of it. We entered it and expelled his mercenaries from it and we are now staying here." FIGHTERS CLIMBING UP STAIRWAY IN THE HOTEL ENTRANCE TO SAADI GADDAFI MILITARY CAMP IN SIRTE AND ANTI-GADDAFI VEHICLES DRIVING NTC FIGHTER GETTING HIS HEAD SHAVED OUTSIDE THE CAMP NTC FIGHTER FIXING EQUIPMENT AT THE CAMP MORE OF THE FIGHTERS IN THE CAMP WIDE OF SIRTE AIRPORT WITH INCLUDES THE AL-QARDABIYAH MILITARY AIRBASE GADDAFI FIGHTER JET DESTROYED AFTER NATO BOMBING MORE OF THE DESTROYED FIGHTER JET FIGHTER STANDING NEAR DESTROYED JET DESTROYED HELICOPTER MORE OF THE DESTROYED HELICOPTER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) NTC FIGHTER ALI AL-HINISH, SAYING: "This is the al-Qardabiyah airbase in Sirte, considered the biggest airbase in North Africa. There is a weapons storage unit and a hangar for storing aircrafts. The Nato bombed it and it is now controlled by rebels completely as well as Abu Hadi and At'at village." VARIOUS OF DESTROYED MILITARY AIRCRAFTS VARIOUS OF ABANDONED ROCKETS MORE OF THE ABANDONED ROCKETS AT THE AIRBASE
- Embargoed: 22nd October 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Conflict,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA5I69I00CF75WD4QT3D65AOO0M
- Story Text: Despite coming under sniper fire, the forces of the National Transition Council (NTC) in Libya showed off on Thursday (October 6) what they said were sites captured from the forces loyal to deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi in Sirte, one of the last centers of fighting in the country.
The NTC fighters in Sirte say they gained control three days ago of a military camp, a base of Gaddafi's son Saadi and his forces. The fighters said they also control Sirte Hotel, a five star venue owned by Gaddafi and used to host guests of his lavish Arab and African summits.
"He used it only for his conferences and then closed it afterwards. The people never got any use of it. We entered it and expelled his mercenaries from it and we are now staying here," said Ali Hassan Al-Obeidi who, along with other fighters use it as their base.
Some 10 kilometres (6 miles) away is the Saadi camp, a military base until recently used by Gaddafi's son Saadi and his troops.
Also nearby is the Qardabiyah military airbase, next to the civilian Sirte Airport, control of which NTC forces took last week.
"This is the al-Qardabiyah airbase in Sirte, considered the biggest airbase in North Africa. There is a weapons storage unit and a hangar for storing aircrafts. The NATO bombed it and it is now controlled by rebels completely as well as Abu Hadi and At'at village," said Ali Al-Hinish, a government forces fighter.
NTC commanders in Sirte said on Thursday they were planning to re-new their attack on the centre of Sirte on Friday after prayers despite the heavy resistance put up by Gaddafi loyalists in the embattled city for more than three weeks now. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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