LIBYA: National Transitional Council fighters gather outside the tribal town of Bani Walid in preparation for a fresh assault against Gaddafi loyalists in the town

Record ID: 560166

  • Title: LIBYA: National Transitional Council fighters gather outside the tribal town of Bani Walid in preparation for a fresh assault against Gaddafi loyalists in the town
  • Date: 15th September 2011
  • Summary: NTC FIGHTERS ON MOUNTED MACHINE-GUN ON BACK OF PICKUP CARS VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED LOCAL NTC COMMANDER, SAYING: "Soon we will be in Bani Walid, God willing. As I said the reason for the delay is concerning the security of the citizens, we now know the location of the (pro-Gaddafi) brigades and their weapons, we have enough information on them, God willing." CHECKPOINT FIGHTERS SITTING NEXT TO ANTI-AIRCRAFT MACHINE-GUN VEHICLE DRIVING OFF
  • Embargoed: 30th September 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA89TE8YN14R82ZCS33M69BWBWD
  • Story Text: Fighters loyal to the ruling interim National Transitional Council (NTC) said on Wednesday (September 14) that a full assault on the tribal town of Bani Walid would begin as soon as civilians wishing to flee the fighting can do so.
    Fighting has been intermittent around the desert town as lengthy talks on solving the stand-off peacefully failed to reach a conclusion. A deadline for talks to end and fighting to start was given as last Saturday and fighting has varied in intensity since with NATO airpower targeting positions in the centre of the town held by Gaddafi loyalists.
    "Soon we will be in Bani Walid, God willing. As I said the reason for the delay is concerning the security of the citizens, we now know the location of the (pro-Gaddafi) brigades and their weapons, we have enough information on them, God willing," said one local commander.
    Bani Walid is among a handful of towns remaining under the control of the largely ousted regime of Muammar Gaddafi, along with his birthplace of Sirte and the towns of Sabha and Jufrah in the south.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register