LIBYA: Civilians flee Bani Walid as fighting intensifies in the pro-Gaddafi stronghold
Record ID:
560792
LIBYA: Civilians flee Bani Walid as fighting intensifies in the pro-Gaddafi stronghold
- Title: LIBYA: Civilians flee Bani Walid as fighting intensifies in the pro-Gaddafi stronghold
- Date: 14th September 2011
- Summary: BANI WALID, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 13, 2011) (REUTERS) TRAVELLING SHOTS TOWARDS ENTRANCE TO BANI WALID/CAR PASSES PILLAR WITH IMAGE OF MUAMMAR GADDAFI ON TOP, WITH SCARF TIED AROUND HIS MOUTH NTC FORCES VEHICLES NEXT TO MONUMENT AT CHECKPOINT VARIOUS OF NTC FORCES CHECKING VEHICLE AT CHECKPOINT NTC FORCES AT CHECKPOINT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) NTC FORCES COLONEL, DAIA MSBAH, SAYING: "Bani Walid is considered to be part of the northern section and the north is mostly under the control of the rebels, apart from a very small section." ROAD SIGN READING 'BANI WALID' (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) NTC FORCES COLONEL, DAIA MSBAH, SAYING: "We are trying, as much as possible, to limit damage, we are trying as much as possible to take care of our people and the general area. However, at the end of the day, we are trying to locate those who are armed and those from outside of Bani Walid who are armed. If they want to put down their weapons and not be a threat, they are welcome here." FAMILIES IN CARS QUEUING AT CHECKPOINT TO LEAVE BANI WALID NTC FORCES HOLDING WEAPONS NTC FORCES DRIVING IN TRUCK
- Embargoed: 29th September 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Conflict,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAA8M3P7JDJ67WO6CXZCLMBJT9W
- Story Text: NTC forces manning checkpoints in the battleground of Bani Walid were allowing families to flee the embattled Gaddafi-held desert town by car on Tuesday (September 13).
NTC forces, which seized Tripoli on August 23, say they have met fierce resistance on the fourth day of fighting for the of Bani Walid, 150 km (95 miles) southeast of the capital, and are edging towards Sirte.
In Bani Walid, fleeing residents reported intense street fighting while NATO warplanes could be heard overhead.
Families trapped there for weeks escaped after Gaddafi forces abandoned some checkpoints on the outskirts. Dozens of cars packed with civilians streamed out of the area.
The United Nations (U.N.) says it is worried about the fate of civilians trapped inside besieged pro-Gaddafi towns.
But Colonel Daia Msbah, manning an NTC checkpoint in Bani Walid, said they were happy to allow civilians to leave the town.
"We are trying, as much as possible, to limit damage, we are trying as much as possible to take care of our people and the general area. However, at the end of the day, we are trying to locate those who are armed and those from outside of Bani Walid who are armed. If they want to put down their weapons and not be a threat, they are welcome here," said Msbah.
He added: "Bani Walid is considered to be part of the northern section and the north is mostly under the control of the rebels, apart from a very small section."
The NTC has sent extra units to Bani Walid, but some fighters said this only worsened tribal tensions between fighters from other areas and those from the town.
Some NTC combatants suspect local fighters of the Warfalla tribe, Libya's largest, of passing tips to Gaddafi forces in Bani Walid. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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