LIBYA: Anti-gaddafi forces gather outside the tribal town of Bani Walid as fresh assault against Gaddafi loyalists in the town gets underway

Record ID: 560112

  • Title: LIBYA: Anti-gaddafi forces gather outside the tribal town of Bani Walid as fresh assault against Gaddafi loyalists in the town gets underway
  • Date: 17th September 2011
  • Summary: NEAR BANI WALID, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 16, 2011) (REUTERS) ROAD ON OUTSKIRTS OF BANI WALID ANTI-GADDAFI FIGHTER HOLDING WEAPON AND SINGING ALLAH AKBAR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED LOCAL NTC COMMANDER, SAYING: "The first group has advanced towards the enemy. This is the second brigade. There was an enemy car and we dealt with it. It was only one vehicle - Yes, we hit them with medium range weapons.'' NTC FIGHTER HOLDING WEAPON AT CHECKPOINT NTC FIGHTERS SINGING / HOLDING RIFLES VARIOUS NTC FIGHTERS ON ROAD TO CHECKPOINT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED LOCAL NTC COMMANDER, SAYING: "We were ready and were planning to hold Friday prayers, God willing, in Bani Walid. When we were about to advance a clash took place with a surveillance crew made up of 2-3 enemy vehicles. They shot towards us, but thank God, we were able to stop them and defeat them. They retreated to an area 5 kilometers inside and God willing we are now advancing to the heart of Bani Walid.'' VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS CLOSE RIFLE AND BULLETS NTC VEHICLES LINED UP ON ROAD NTC FIGHTERS CHEERING VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED LOCAL NTC COMMANDER, SAYING: "We are going to Bani Walid to fight, God willing. It's not going to be peaceful since they won't allow it. Gaddafi leftovers don't want it to be peaceful, that's why we will fight.'' NTC VEHICLES DRIVING THROUGH, NTC FIGHTERS CHEERING
  • Embargoed: 2nd October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVA7MDD9S3U3T9KKQEVP2IJCURBS
  • Story Text: Libyan fighters poured into a desert town held by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi on Friday (September 16), as explosions and gunfire echoed around the town's hills and valleys, a Reuters reporter said. Bani Walid, 180 km (110 miles) south of Tripoli, has been under siege for two weeks, with hundreds of die-hard Gaddafi loyalists concentrated at its centre.
    Truckloads of anti-Gaddafi troops shouting "Allah Akbar!" and columns of pickup trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns headed towards the town,180 km (110 miles) south of Tripoli.
    "The first group has advanced towards the enemy. This is the second brigade. There was an enemy car and we dealt with it. It was only one vehicle - Yes, we hit them with medium range weapons,'' said one unidentified local commander.
    Anti-Gaddafi forces also stormed the ousted ruler's birthplace of Sirte late on Thursday, coming under heavy fire from loyalists in the northern coastal city. Bani Walid has been under siege for two weeks, with hundreds of die-hard Gaddafi loyalists dug into its steep valleys and hills resisting advancing interim government forces. Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) had hesitated to storm the town in fear of alienating a powerful local tribe, but earlier this week it told civilians to flee ahead of a full-out onslaught.
    Fighters shook their rifles above their heads and fired defiant shots into the air.
    Earlier in the day, rockets fired by Gaddafi forces in Bani Walid had hit the factory, which is also used as a field hospital. Doctors there said no one had been wounded or killed in the attack. An exchange of heavy machinegun fire followed and large numbers of anti-Gaddafi forces set off in pursuit of the attackers.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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