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    October 10, 2011

Libya's NTC: Anti-Gadhafi Fighters Make Gains in Sirte, Bani Walid

   VOA News
   A Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) fighter walks amongst the
   rubble of a destroyed building the Kadhafi palace in Sirte. Libya's new
   regime forces were on the verge of taking full control of Moamer
   Kadhafi's hometown Sirte after seizing its show
   Photo: AFP
   A Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) fighter walks amongst the
   rubble of a destroyed building the Kadhafi palace in Sirte. Libya's new
   regime forces were on the verge of taking full control of Moamer
   Kadhafi's hometown Sirte after seizing its showpiece conference centre
   and university from his diehards, October 9, 2011.

   The head of Libya's provisional government says he expects the last
   strongholds of those loyal to former leader Moammar Gadhafi to fall
   within the week, as clashes continue in Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte.
   National Transitional Council chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil said Sunday
   anti-Gadhafi fighters have made huge gains in Sirte and Bani Walid,
   southeast of the capital.
   In Sirte, NTC fighters say they control convention center buildings
   that Gadhafi loyalists had used as their main base of operation. They
   also claim to have seized Sirte's main hospital and university, after
   launching an assault on the city on Friday.
   More than 30 NTC fighters have been killed in the three days of
   fighting, with more than 400 others wounded. The number of loyalist
   casualties was not known.
   NTC officials say the capture of Sirte will allow them to declare the
   country liberated, because it will mean the provisional government
   controls all of the country's ports and harbors.
   Sirte is 360 kilometers east of Libya's capital, Tripoli, and has
   served as a center of support for Gadhafi. Anti-Gadhafi fighters have
   been trying to move into the city for three weeks.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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