LIBYA: NTC fighters fire artillery at suspected positions of Gaddafi loyalists in Sirte, the biggest city outside their control
Record ID:
572949
LIBYA: NTC fighters fire artillery at suspected positions of Gaddafi loyalists in Sirte, the biggest city outside their control
- Title: LIBYA: NTC fighters fire artillery at suspected positions of Gaddafi loyalists in Sirte, the biggest city outside their control
- Date: 24th September 2011
- Summary: SIRTE, LIBYA (SEPTEMBER 23, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NATIONAL TRANSITIONAL COUNCIL (NTC) FIGHTERS GATHERED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SIRTE VARIOUS OF NTC FIGHTERS CHECKING THEIR WEAPONS VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS PREPARING TO FIRE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AMR AL-ASWAR, NTC MILITARY COMMANDER, SAYING: "We are the revolutionaries of Misrata who are here on the outskirts of Sirte and are carrying out strikes against military targets according to accurate co-ordinates and information." FIGHTERS WATCHING VARIOUS OF FIGHTERS FIRING ARTILLERY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AMR AL-ASWAR, NTC MILITARY COMMANDER, SAYING: "We only have one obstacle remaining, and that's the presence of civilians because Gaddafi's brigades are using civilians as human shields and protecting themselves through them." MORE OF FIGHTERS FIRING ARTILLERY
- Embargoed: 9th October 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: Conflict
- Reuters ID: LVAC19XDWSM1JADHGGK7MCSY3I8G
- Story Text: Libyan fighters allied to the country's new rulers fired sporadic tank shells and artillery at suspected positions of supporters of ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi in Sirte city on Friday (September 23).
The fighters have struggled to capture Gaddafi's birthplace despite support from NATO warplanes.
One commander said they were aiming at military targets as fighters fired artillery from the outskirts of the city.
"We are the revolutionaries of Misrata who are here on the outskirts of Sirte and are carrying out strikes against military targets according to accurate co-ordinates and information," said Amr al-Aswar, a military commander on the city's western edge.
The commander said civilians were being used as human shields.
"We only have one obstacle remaining, and that's the presence of civilians because Gaddafi's brigades are using civilians as human shields and protecting themselves through them."
Many Sirte residents sympathise with Gaddafi. The city typifies the problem the NTC faces in reconciling the significant parts of the country that have tribal loyalties to Gaddafi or did not support the revolution. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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