LIBYA: Fighters for National Transitional Council say they have pushed into Bani Walid

Record ID: 560871

  • Title: LIBYA: Fighters for National Transitional Council say they have pushed into Bani Walid
  • Date: 19th September 2011
  • Summary: BANI WALID, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 18, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LIBYAN FIGHTERS DRIVING OFF TOWARDS CENTRE OF BANI WALID YOUNG FIGHTER VEHICLES DRIVING THROUGH CHECKPOINT TOWARDS CENTRE OF BANI WALID FIGHTERS SHOUTING AFTER RETURNING FROM BANI WALID (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED MAN AT NTC CHECKPOINT SAYING: "I congratulate the Libyan people and the rebels for entering Bani Walid city. Up to now we have reached as far as the valley. Today they tried to bomb us with rockets and mortars." AMBULANCE PASSING WOUNDED NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL (NTC) FIGHTER BEING PLACED ON STRETCHER WOUNDED PRO-GADDAFI FIGHTER DUST FROM MORTAR BLAST COVERED, DEAD GADDAFI FIGHTER IN BACK OF TRUCK VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS IN DESERT VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS SHOOTING AT CCTV CAMERA FAMILY THAT HAS DRIVEN OUT OF BANI WALID (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FEMALE MEMBER OF FAMILY FLEEING BANI WALID SAYING; "The rebels entered our neighbourhood to search and clear it, and they are shouting 'are there any families here?' So the guys in the neighbourhood they said 'Yes, there is a family here.' The rebels came to our house, knocked on the door, and said you can come out now, it's safe." FAMILY MAKE VICTORY SIGN, DRIVE AWAY LIBYAN FIGHTERS DRIVING TOWARDS BANI WALID
  • Embargoed: 4th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA3XWHP810GX103ZVQVW8H3GVQG
  • Story Text: Fighters for Libya's National Transitional Council said on Sunday (September 18) they had pushed into Bani Walid, one of the last bastions of armed support for ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi.
    After coming under sniper and mortar fire in the morning from inside the town, NTC fighters pushed forward.
    One vehicle returned from the centre of town with a severely wounded man who NTC fighters said had been among those bombarding them hours earlier.
    "I congratulate the Libyan people and the rebels for entering Bani Walid city," said one man at the final checkpoint before the town, as an ambulance carrying a wounded NTC fighter raced past.
    One family fleeing the town said they had been located and evacuated by NTC fighters from a neighbourhood near the centre.
    "The rebels entered our neighbourhood to search and clear it, and they are shouting 'are there any families here?' So the guys in the neighbourhood they said 'yes, there is a family here'. The rebels came to our house, knocked on the door, and said you can come out now, it's safe," said a female member of the family.
    Gaddafi himself remains at large, but NTC officials say they believe senior members of his former regime remain in Bani Walid.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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