LIBYA: Libyan fighters prepare to renew their offensive on the Gaddafi-held town of Bani Walid, one day after pulling back

Record ID: 561671

  • Title: LIBYA: Libyan fighters prepare to renew their offensive on the Gaddafi-held town of Bani Walid, one day after pulling back
  • Date: 18th September 2011
  • Summary: SLATE INFORMATION
  • Embargoed: 3rd October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVA6U1EPAUHVCVQK9TWGEI98A21F
  • Story Text: Grumbles replaced gunfire outside the Muammar Gaddafi bastion of Bani Walid on Saturday (September 17) as Libyan interim government fighters discussed their defeat the previous day, as occasional mortar bombs whistled towards them.
    The mortar fire from the town's defenders, loyal to Libya's former leader, only aggravated the anti-Gaddafi men's frustration.
    One Libyan fighter said his group had met stiff resistance from snipers.
    "Yesterday we were at the entrance of Bani Walid. Civilians are among the houses, we fear for their safety and when we fire we could hit them. Some people were retreating and no-one was watching our backs, and we were receiving fire from behind," he said.
    Another said they had been the victims of a betrayal.
    "There were some mistakes made because we gave the city a long time to negotiate and then they ordered us to go in, and then we faced betrayal by members of the Warfula clan. It's a mistake that won't happen again. Now we are gathering our groups with good organisation. We are determined to enter the city and liberate the city," he said.
    Nearly four weeks after the rebel coalition over-ran Gaddafi's capital Tripoli, the reverse at Bani Walid was a blow to the new leadership, which has said a timetable for drawing up a democratic constitution and holding elections will not start until all of Libya's vast territory is "liberated".
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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