LIBYA: Interim government forces launch fresh assault on Muammar Gaddafi targets in his birthplace Sirte as fighting to gain control of the city intensifies
Record ID:
572558
LIBYA: Interim government forces launch fresh assault on Muammar Gaddafi targets in his birthplace Sirte as fighting to gain control of the city intensifies
- Title: LIBYA: Interim government forces launch fresh assault on Muammar Gaddafi targets in his birthplace Sirte as fighting to gain control of the city intensifies
- Date: 26th September 2011
- Summary: SIX KILOMETRES SOUTHWEST OF SIRTE, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 25, 2011) (REUTERS) NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL (NTC) FIGHTERS FIRING MORTARS TOWARDS SIRTE FIGHTERS POINTING TO DIRECTION OF ATTACK FIGHTER GETTING READY TO LAUNCH ATTACK FIGHTERS FIRING ARTILLERY FIGHTERS HANDLING AMMUNITION MORE OF FIGHTER FIRING ARTILLERY VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS LOADING WEAPONS MORE OF FIGHTERS MORE OF ARTILLERY BEING FIRED
- Embargoed: 11th October 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Conflict
- Reuters ID: LVACKMV7ZHT4COUFVKD3ZCXZXU39
- Story Text: Forces allied to Libya's ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) launched fresh artillery attacks on targets inside Muammar Gaddafi's home town of Sirte on Sunday (September 25).
The fighters moved close Gaddafi's birthplace of Bohadi village -- about six kilometres from Sirte centre with their pick-up trucks mounted with machineguns.
Field medics said two NTC soldiers had been killed and more than 20 wounded in the latest fighting against pro-Gaddafi forces.
NTC commanders say their advance on Sirte has been hampered by the presence of large numbers of civilians, many of whom have fled in the past week.
Taking Sirte would be a huge boost for the NTC as it tries to establish credibility as a government, and a devastating blow for Gaddafi, widely believed to be on the run inside Libya.
NATO said its planes had hit a number of targets in Sirte in the previous 24 hours, including an ammunition depot and an anti-aircraft gun.
Previously, NTC forces have retreated from Sirte and the other final Gaddafi stronghold, Bani Walid, after poorly organised assaults met fierce resistance from his loyalists.
Though NTC forces have tightened their grip in the past few days on southern oasis towns that sided with Gaddafi, that progress has been overshadowed by unsuccessful efforts to take the last strongholds. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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