Libya NTC Fighters Face Fierce Resistance in Gaddafi Towns

Local Editor

Forces of the Libyan interim government are facing tough resistance in the towns that are still loyal to the ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi. Fierce battles in the town of Sirte, the home town of Gaddafi, left at least 24 National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters dead, and more than 40 injured. "The situation at the roundabout is pitiful. There is no central command, we are retreating to regroup and re-enter again from three fronts," said Al-Dhahira Brigade commander Saleb Abu Shaala. Abu Shaala said the clashes erupted at about 10:30 am (0830 GMT) Saturday and that Gaddafi's forces used heavy artillery and rockets against them while the anti-Gaddafi forces hit back with Grad Rockets. DISORGANIZATION Six hours after the fighting began, NATO warplanes flew overhead, while the roar of artillery fire faded after rebels broke past a key roundabout in the city's south, which was the scene of heavy fighting on Friday. However, convoys of NTC fighters left Sirte again under rocket fire late Saturday, failing to secure their advances in what has proved a recurring pattern in seven months of conflict. Front-line fighters and commanders gave contrasting reports of their progress in Sirte, with men on the ground acknowledging they were facing a tough and well-trained enemy while those in charge downplayed the pockets of pro-Gaddafi resistance. "We don't even have five percent of Sirte because we just go in and out," said Abdul Rauf al-Mansuri, one of those taking up arms for the new authorities. He said that, despite the massive deployment of armed vehicles in and around the town, only a minority of the men were doing the heaviest of the fighting. Mansuri added that NTC forces did not control large swathes of the city as claimed by a top commander in Misrata and that they had also lost their advantage by pulling back at night, giving Gaddafi's men time to re-arm. "If we controlled the city, we would sleep there, but we don't," he said. BANI WALID The situation in the town of Bani Walid was not much different from that in Sirte, with NTC forces also withdrew because of harsh fighting. Medical and NTC sources in Bani Walid, said six NTC fighters were killed on Friday and 20 wounded. The NTC said its fighters had entered the oasis town, 180km southeast of the capital Tripoli, but they made a "tactical withdrawal" on Friday evening due to sniper fire. "It is useless to hold on to positions overnight in a hostile environment," a commander said.

Source: Agencies

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