LIBYA: Fighters loyal to the NTC use heavy artillery as they aim to break a lengthy stalemate for control of Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte

Record ID: 374943

  • Title: LIBYA: Fighters loyal to the NTC use heavy artillery as they aim to break a lengthy stalemate for control of Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte
  • Date: 24th September 2011
  • Summary: NEAR SIRTE, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 23, 2011) (REUTERS) LARGE CANNONS FIRING TOWARDS POSITIONS HELD BY PRO-GADDAFI FIGHTERS IN SIRTE VARIOUS OF NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL (NTC) FIGHTERS SETTING UP CANNON FIRE VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS REPOSITIONING CANNON NTC FIGHTER OPERATING CANNON CANNON FIRING NTC FIGHTERS PREPARING CANNON CANNONS FIRING FIGHTER WATCHING NEAR AMMUNITION
  • Embargoed: 9th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVAACW8W3QIRSC6EV2BUFFKGU8NT
  • Story Text: Forces loyal to Libya's ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) continued to bombard the town of Sirte with heavy artillery on Friday (September 23) after a lengthy stalemate has cast doubts on the NTC's ability to control the large North African country.
    Cannons south-west of Sirte fired at positions in the town held by forces loyal to deposed dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
    NTC forces now control a string of desert towns in Libya's deep south, although they say Gaddafi loyalists are still holding out in some small areas.
    So far they have failed to take the two much larger loyalist strongholds far to the north, Bani Walid and Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte, in a series of chaotic offensives which have raised questions about the NTC's ability to control the country.
    NTC field commander Mohammed Qaradish said his fighters would make gains into the town soon.
    "We have (military) plans, God willing. We have these plans drawn out and God willing there will be an advance," he said.
    The NTC, Libya's de facto government since Gaddafi's fall, has been anxious to show it can establish firm control over a country riven by tribal and regional rivalries.
    But, despite support from NATO warplanes, government forces have struggled to capture Sirte, the biggest city outside its control.
    This is a complex job because many residents sympathise with Gaddafi. The city typifies the problem the NTC faces in reconciling the significant parts of the country that have tribal loyalties to Gaddafi or did not support the revolution.
    A Reuters reporter on the western edges of Sirte saw dozens of cars with civilians leaving the town. Anti-Gaddafi fighters fired sporadic tank shells and artillery at suspected positions of Gaddafi loyalists. NATO aircraft could be heard overhead.
    Masoud al-Adawi, a fleeing resident of Sirte, said civilians were being intimidated by loyalists in the town.
    "The city has a lot of gunfire when you leave al-Jazira (neighbourhood). It's all a campaign of terror to prevent citizens from leaving, they don't want residents to leave... They want to use us as human shields."
    NTC fighters on the outskirts of Sirte and residents fleeing the city said pro-Gaddafi forces had been executing people suspected of sympathising with the NTC.
    The NTC said last week it would move to Tripoli only after its forces are in full control of Libyan territory, contradicting an earlier pledge to move the interim administration to the capital around mid-September.
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