NTC’s Revolutionary forces begin ‘final’ assault on Sirte

Forces of the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) have launched what they call a “final” all-out offensive to capture the city of Sirte, the main stronghold of the loyalists of Libya’s fugitive dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Revolutionary forces advanced into the coastal city from the west, east and south firing rockets and mortar shells as well as using tank fire in an effort to confine Zionist-backed Gaddafi loyalists to a smaller space, the Associated Press reported on Friday.

Forces entering Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte from the western side did not face much resistance until nearly two kilometers from the city center where they were met with nearly 800 Gaddafi loyalists, said Altaib Aleroebi, a revolutionary commander leading the assault on the western front.

The fight persisted up to the Ouagadougou conference hall but the revolutionary fighters were driven back as Zionist-backed pro-Gaddafi forces fired heavily from the surrounding buildings.

The humanitarian situation in the city was reported to be worsening and many civilians fled the battlefield in their cars on Friday.

Pro-Gaddafi forces still control another bastion, Bani Walid. A revolutionary commander outside Bani Walid said they have begun a new round of negotiations with pro-Gaddafi forces inside the town, adding NTC forces would launch a new offensive if talks failed.

NTC Defense Minister Jalal al-Digheily said on Friday that the end of the conflict was near.

“We are very close to the end of the war and peace will be restored all over Libya,” Digheily said at a news conference with his Italian counterpart Ignazio La Russa, who was in Libyan capital Tripoli along with British Defense Secretary Liam Fox.