Libyan rebels claim seizing Sirte

Libyan rebels claim to have taken Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s home town of Sirte, as they continue to push westward towards the Libyan capital.

28 March 2011, 12:00am

1 min read

Shamsi Abdul Molah, spokesman for the opposition’s National Council, said opposition forces had moved into the city at around 11.30pm. “It’s confirmed: Sirte has fallen into pro-democracy hands,” he said.

“They found it an unarmed city. They had no problem getting in there, they did not encounter resistance,” an Al Jazeera correspondent said. A number of military vehicles were seen leaving Sirte yesterday, heading towards Tripoli.

Al Jazeera reports that the claim of the opposition taking Sirte, which could not be independently verified, came as their forces, bolstered by coalition air strikes, pushed westwards and seized control of Bin Jawad, Ras Lanuf, Uqayla, Brega and Ajdabiya.

News media this morning reported hearing at least nine powerful explosions coming from Sirte, just hours after Nato finally took full command of military operations in Libya from the US-led coalition on Sunday, enabling the alliance to strike at Col Gaddafi's forces if they threaten civilians.

Coalition air strikes against targets in Tripoli also resumed yesterday night with explosions heard in the capital.

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I do not have any sympathy except for the truth and for what is right. Both these are difficult to read on the lines. I do condemn all violence whether by Gaddafi or against Gaddafi; violence is always violence for me.. and again for me whether you accept different opinions or not..there are always other ways for the right to win but never the cowboy fastest gun..but never killing of people like the way it is going in Libya...just for your information I have been going to this country to work for more than 25 years and I find it difficult to believe all that is being said.

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Bejn il-linji, reading between the lines of your comment I can see you are so sorry to see that Gaddafi is about the be deposed. Why don't you declare your sympathies openly? Same comment for the ironically-named Solidarity. . Gaddafi is a murderous bully and his victims finally rose up against him.

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It is more than clear that NATO are on the attack. The No Fly Zone as UN stated applies only for Libyans. The cheek is that the NO Fly Zone was stated to be for defending and not for attacking. Very Strong Against The small fish. You know what is required to fry fish? Answer = Oil.

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The faith of Libia is not in the hands of the libians but of Nato and America. It's not the rebels who are advancing but Nato aircrafts bombarding anyone ion their paths. What a humanitarian mission is this?