LIBYA: Families evacuate Bani Walid as National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters battle pro-Gaddafi loyalists who remain steadfast in the city centre

Record ID: 559990

  • Title: LIBYA: Families evacuate Bani Walid as National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters battle pro-Gaddafi loyalists who remain steadfast in the city centre
  • Date: 13th September 2011
  • Summary: NORTH OF BANI WALID, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 12, 2011) (REUTERS) NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL (NTC) FIGHTERS AT CHECKPOINT OUTSIDE BANI WALID NTC FORCES CHECKING CARS ENTERING AND EXITING BANI WALID FAMILY LEAVING BANI WALID / MAN SAYING TO NTC FORCES: "VICTORY IS YOURS, GOD WILLING. YOU SHALL BE VICTORIOUS"
  • Embargoed: 28th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA91R53OEZE6ITDXB05EJE6H89K
  • Story Text: Families evacuated the Libyan town of Bani Walid on Monday (September 12), one of the last strongholds of forces loyal to ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi.
    The interim government had sent additional brigades to Bani Walid, but some fighters on the ground said the move had only exacerbated existing tribal sensitivities.
    Fighters trying to take the town also said they suspected local fighters of the Warfalla tribe, Libya's largest, of passing information to pro-Gaddafi forces inside Bani Walid.
    As families drove out of the city, their cars packed with children and all the belongings they could salvage, they told of neighborhoods and civilians coming under fire.
    "They have taken positions in the area where we were staying, but the other end, it was coming under fire and one could easily get killed -- I did not see anyone getting shot, but I have heard from others," said Bani Walid resident, Ali Mokhtar al-Khalidi, as he left the city with his family.
    His wife said the children could not take it anymore.
    "Our courtyard came under fire yesterday, so we could not take it anymore -- the children could not take it anymore. They are scared."
    Meanwhile, the National Transitional council (NTC) spokesman Ahmed Bani told reporters the plan for Bani Walid for now was to wait.
    He said Gaddafi fighters had put missile launchers on the roofs of houses with civilian families inside, making it impossible for NTC forces or their allied NATO war planes to strike.
    "They (Gaddafi forces) have been targeting civilians. The reason we had to leave is because they were shooting right into our courtyards. So we were forced to move away," said Abdullah Mohamed, as he left the city.
    Mohamed said most of the city had been liberated but Gaddafi forces still controlled the city centre.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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