Intense fighting in Libya as Gaddafi holds on to power

Sunday March 06, 2011 06:39:27 PM, IANS

Cairo: Pitched battles were fought in Libya, with gunfire being reported in capital Tripoli Sunday as troops loyal to 68-year-old leader Muammar Gaddafi attempted to wrest back control of towns taken over by rebels.

Gunfire erupted in Tripoli which has been till now the stronghold of Gaddafi, who has ruled the country after taking over in a bloodless coup in 1969.

Witnesses, cited by Al Jazeera, said that automatic weapon rounds could be heard early in the morning around central Tripoli along with pro-government chants and loud blowing of car horns.

Reports from Green Square in Tripoli said that a large number of people had turned up to show their support to Gaddafi.

"The square is absolutely thronged with supporters of Gaddafi," the Al Jazeera correspondent said as there were celebrations over the Libyan leader's claimed tactical advances.

Though Tripoli is still in Gaddafi's control, other parts of the country, particularly towns in the east, have been taken over by the rebels. The violence since the unrest began Feb 14 has left, according to one estimate, 6,000 people dead and forced nearly 140,000 people to flee the country.

In the city of Misurata, clashes took place between forces loyal to Gaddafi and the pro-democracy protesters.

Gunfire could be heard at the western and southern entrances to Misurata, as Gaddafi's forces try to move into the heart of the city, DPA reported.

Misurata residents told Al Jazeera that reports the city had been recaptured were false.

"There's absolutely no grounds for that claim whatsoever," a resident was quoted as saying.

Another resident said: "Misurata is currently under attack."

"There are ground attacks from supporters of Gaddafi and some mercenaries. I hear a lot of gunfire; I suspect there will be a lot of casualties," he said.

A British newspaper said that 8 British special forces commandos were captured by rebel forces in eastern Libya.

The paper said the soldiers were escorting a junior British diplomat through rebel-held territory who was hoping to make contact with the insurgent forces.

Libya's second largest city of Benghazi, where the protests initially started and then quickly spread across the country, was in the hands of anti-government forces. Libyan state television however said Sunday that forces loyal to Gaddafi are on their way to the city.

Meanwhile, Libya has asked the UN to suspend sactions imposed against it following a mass revolt which the Muammar Gaddafi regime has sought to suppress.

The Security Council adopted a resolution Feb 26 on "targeted measures" against the current Libyan government. The sanctions include a total arms embargo, travel bans and freezing of accounts held by the country's leadership, RIA Novosti reported.

Libyan Foreign Minister Mussa Kussa wrote to the Security Council Friday urging the lifting of the sanctions, adding that the government was "taken aback" by the measures as only "a modicum" of force had been used against protesters.

                                           Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Thousands march in Bahrain, demand cabinet resignation

Tens of thousands marched in the Bahraini capital Manama Friday afternoon renewing calls for the cabinet resignation and    »

Arab World Turmoil: Libya tense, sectarian clashes in Bahrain

Gaddafi launches air strikes, Egypt PM quits

  Most Read

Govt given a month’s time to release Muslim youths arrested in blast case

The Muslim protesters from various parts of Maharashtra state gathered at Azad   »

Muslims in Maharashtra feeling alienated: Minorities' panel chief told

UPA in crisis as DMK quits government, dumps Congress

Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK Saturday ended its seven-year alliance with the Congress and pulled out of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government after running into roadblocks over seat sharing in assembly elections only a month away. The dramatic decision, announced    »

  News Pick

To defend innocents, nephew of blast accused wants to become lawyer

He would probably have become a Chartered Accountant earning fabulously and living in style. But he  »

Now a solar lamp scam in Bihar, village heads in trouble

Over 200 outgoing village body heads, or 'mukhiyas', are in deep trouble in Bihar in connection with a scam in the purchase of solar lamps at a time when elections for 2.62 lakh panchayat posts are approaching.    »

Women still missing from India's politics

Despite a more than decade long campaign to get more women's representation in India's legislative bodies, including parliament, women are still missing from politics as patriarchal attitudes create doubts in their own minds as   »

Arjun Singh, former union minister, governor, and chief minister, dead

Arjun Singh, a former union minister, chief minister and governor, who made a strong bid to become prime minister in the mid   »

Arjun Singh: Crafty Congress strategist, Rajiv loyalist

Babri Masjid case: Apex court issues notice to Advani

The Supreme Court Friday issued notice to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani, Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray and others on  »

BJP ideology not fit for secular India: Cong

Union Budget 2011

Budget promises more money for all - farmers to corporates

Promising more money in the hands of households by hiking the income tax exemption limit and lowering tax surcharge for corporates, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Monday  »

Complete text of the budget speech

Highlights of Pranab Mukherjee's budget for 2011-12

Budget allocation for Minority Affairs raised to 2600 crore

Bouquets and brickbats for Pranab's budget

Housewives to Pranab: Thanks for sparing us more headache

Budget 2011: Education gets 24% hike; AMU, Azad foundation get funds

Pranab's budget has Rs.8,000 crore for Kashmir's development