LIBYA: NTC forces backed by NATO warplanes swarm into the city of Sirte under heavy sniper fire

Record ID: 374934

  • Title: LIBYA: NTC forces backed by NATO warplanes swarm into the city of Sirte under heavy sniper fire
  • Date: 25th September 2011
  • Summary: SIRTE, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 24, 2011) (REUTERS) LIBYA NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL (NTC) FIGHTERS ON THEIR VEHICLES ON THE SOUTHWEST FRONT SMOKE RISING FIGHTERS AIMING THEIR WEAPONS FIGHTERS DRIVING PAST BY AS SMOKE RISES IN BACKGROUND FIGHTER GATHERING TO TAKE POSITIONS FIGHTERS FIRING WEAPONS VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS LAUNCHING ATTACKS FIGHTERS DRIVING INTO TOWN CENTRE FR
  • Embargoed: 10th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVABL40U9IRQJKYXHFQ7I552VEWR
  • Story Text: Libyan provisional government forces advanced into the city of Sirte on Saturday (September 24) but came under heavy sniper fire as they tried to gain control of one of ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi's last bastions of support.
    Black smoke billowed over the town as National Transitional Council (NTC) forces massed in Zafran Square about 1 km (half a mile) from the town centre. Gunfire could be heard from the centre as NTC fighters moved tanks and mortars into the square.
    Pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns and loaded with NTC fighters raced into the town. NTC forces also advanced from the south of Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown on the Mediterranean coast.
    A large cloud of smoke over the town was the result of a NATO strike on an ammunition dump, NTC fighters said. At the western gate, gunners fired artillery towards the town and both sides exchanged volleys of rockets.
    On the eastern side of the city, fighters fired into the air and flashed victory signs, shouting, "God is greatest," as they celebrated their advance.
    "Thank God, we are now at the eastern gate of Sirte and we have pushed back Gaddafi's forces away from the gate and God willing, we are advancing now and everything is stable," said one fighter.
    Previously, NTC forces have retreated from Sirte and the other final Gaddafi stronghold, Bani Walid, after poorly organised assaults met fierce resistance from loyalists.
    Though NTC forces have in recent days tightened their grip on many southern oasis towns which sided with Gaddafi, that progress has been overshadowed by unsuccessful efforts to take the last strongholds.
    NTC commanders say their advance on Sirte has been hampered by the presence of large numbers of civilians, many of whom have fled in the past week.
    A Gaddafi spokesman has accused NATO of killing several hundred civilians with its strikes on the town.
    Communications have been largely cut off since the fall of the capital Tripoli last month.
    Taking Sirte would be a huge boost for the NTC as it tries to establish credibility and a devastating blow for Gaddafi, who is still believed to be inside Libya.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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