LIBYA: Heavy clashes erupted in the centre of Bani Walid over the weekend as Libya's National Transitional Council forces battled forces loyal to fugitive ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi

Record ID: 561089

  • Title: LIBYA: Heavy clashes erupted in the centre of Bani Walid over the weekend as Libya's National Transitional Council forces battled forces loyal to fugitive ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi
  • Date: 27th September 2011
  • Summary: BANI WALID, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 24, 2011) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) LIBYAN INTERIM GOVERNMENT FIGHTERS SHOOTING / RPG LANDING BEHIND THEM GUNMEN RUNNING / COMING UNDER FIRE FORCES LOYAL TO MUAMMAR GADDAFI VISIBLE, RUNNING ALONGSIDE ROAD/ CARS PASSING LIBYAN INTERIM GOVERNMENT FIGHTERS TAKING COVER BEHIND MOVING VEHICLE LIBYAN INTERIM GOVERNMENT FIGHTER FIRING RPG TOWARD GADDAFI FORCES VEHICLES OF FIGHTERS LOYAL TO INTERIM GOVERNMENT RPG LANDING NEAR VEHICLES / FIGHTERS RUNNING FOR COVER ROCKETS BEING LAUNCHED FROM VEHICLE FIGHTERS PASSING PEOPLE / BEING FIRED UPON AS THEY DRIVE VEHICLES DRIVING / SHOOTING AND COMING UNDER FIRE
  • Embargoed: 12th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVA4ZYXC2FKTPLFQHUT9HM2WQ3PX
  • Story Text: Fighters loyal to Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) encountered heavy resistance from forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi in the desert enclave of Bani Walid on Saturday (September 24).
    Heavy shooting took place in the centre of town as NTC forces attacked their intended targets and came under fire.
    Forces loyal to ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi could be seen running alongside a road in town as they fired at NTC fighters who responded with rockets.
    To date, the progress made by Libya's interim government forces in southern cities has been overshadowed by unsuccessful efforts to take Bani Walid and Sirte. Wresting control of the two remaining strongholds loyal to the ousted leader remains the NTC priority.
    North of Bani Walid, NTC military forces have brought forward tanks and Grad rocket launchers for a renewed attempt to take the town although it was not clear when the attack might begin.
    The offensive there has been frustrated by stiff resistance from well-drilled loyalist fighters, and also a lack of organisation among the attacking forces.
    They operate in disparate units based on their home towns, with little overall command. Many fighters go into battle wearing flip-flop sandals, t-shirts and jeans, and have no military training.
    It remains unclear whether the NTC, still based in the eastern city of Benghazi, can unify a country split along tribal and regional lines.
    A manhunt for Gaddafi, who has occasionally issued defiant audio messages through Syrian-based Arrai TV, has continued to evade capture for weeks.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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