LIBYA: Anti-Gaddafi fighters receive fewer casualties than previous day in their battle for Sirte

Record ID: 375375

  • Title: LIBYA: Anti-Gaddafi fighters receive fewer casualties than previous day in their battle for Sirte
  • Date: 9th October 2011
  • Summary: SIRTE, LIBYA (OCTOBER 8, 2011) (REUTERS) SIRTE CITY AND SMOKE RISING VEHICLES WITH HEAVY MACHINE GUNS NEAR FRONTLINE MORE BLACK SMOKE RISING FIGHTERS SHELTERING BY WALL NEAR FRONTLINE FIGHTERS FIGHTERS SITTING UNDER A SAND DUNE WRITING ON THE HILL WITH BULLET CASINGS: "Allahu Akbar, Libya is free." SMOKE RISING FROM HORIZON FIGHTERS ON FRONTLINE FIGHTERS PREPARING
  • Embargoed: 24th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4UUIYDC52P5TJY8IE8AV5P3NF
  • Story Text: Libyan fighters loyal to the interim-ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) continued intense street battles in the town of Sirte on Saturday (October 8) but suffered at least two fatalities.
    The advance in Muammar Gaddafi's hometown allowed government fighters to capture a large state housing complex in the past 24 hours and a large offensive into the city was halted by die-hard Gaddafi loyalists, mostly hiding in buildings and rooftops as snipers, according to NTC fighters.
    The capture of the area will be a welcome boost to Libya's new rulers, who have put a full transition on hold until highly-symbolic Sirte is under their full control.
    The NTC has been frustrated by stiff resistance by Gaddafi loyalists in the relatively small coastal town.
    Saturday's fighting has been some of the heaviest in weeks.
    The field hospital used to treat those wounded in battle, saw all-familiar scenes of fighters being rushed into the hospital and medics frantically treating blast and gunshot wounds.
    "Two martyrs and 30 wounded fighters and among them five cases that are serious, caused by sniper fire targetting the head, chest and neck areas," said doctor Hassan Emlitan.
    Along with the interior desert town of Bani Walid, Sirte is one of the last urban areas of Gaddafi loyalists in the country he ruled alone for 42 years.
    It presents a particular challenge for Libya's new rulers. A drawn-out battle with many civilian casualties will breed hostility that will make it very difficult for the NTC to unite the country once the fighting is over.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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