NTC forces pound Gaddafi loyalists

FORCES from Libya's new regime launched an intensive assault on two areas of fallen strongman Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte yesterday, bombarding his diehards with artillery, mortars and rockets.

Their latest offensive, aimed at mopping up remaining pockets of stiff resistance, came a day after National Transitional Council (NTC) combatants were forced to withdraw under a hail of withering sniper fire.

An AFP correspondent said that shortly before 1pm, a large column of NTC forces, some in trucks and some on foot, pushed out of the central police HQ towards loyalist positions in the Dollar and Number Two neighbourhoods.

"Gaddafi snipers are trapped in area Number Two and we surround them. Right now, we are shooting randomly just to frighten them, but a lot of snipers changed their positions last night," said Mustafa al-Abyad, an NTC commander.

Huge plumes of thick black smoke billowed above both neighbourhoods amid an intense grenade and mortar bombardment and almost continuous machinegun fire.

NTC scouts had earlier probed loyalist defences, advancing as far as 2km west from the central police headquarters before pulling back.

They had remained there overnight after retreating there under heavy fire last Thursday.

Advancing NTC troops seized a school on the edge of the Dollar neighbourhood from which it launched a heavy bombardment. The 100-strong force came under intense return fire.

NTC fighters later opened up with 130 mm cannons, after their troops pulled back a bit to allow for the bombardment.

Defiant Gaddafi fighters in the two areas of northwest Sirte have been staging a fierce last stand that has put paid to NTC hopes of a swift mop-up. "They are shooting at us. They have good positions in buildings and they have snipers," said NTC fighter Amed al-Figi from Misrata. "We are making progress but it is difficult."

Ahead of the latest assault, one fighter at the police HQ was dismissive of the Gaddafi hold-outs.

"We still have to clean some rubbish that is left in the city. We are waiting for orders. Very soon the Sirte battle will be over, but the Libyan war will be over only with the capture of Gaddafi," Abdul Salam Farjani said.

NTC commanders said last Thursday the Gaddafi remnants were cornered within about two square kilometres of the city.

An AFP journalist reported at least two regime fighters killed in yesterday's fighting and around 15 wounded, some gravely and several by shrapnel.

Four NTC fighters were killed last Thursday, including two by friendly fire, and another 40 were wounded, mostly by snipers, said Rawad Friwan, a surgeon at a field hospital on Sirte's western outskirts. Sirte is a key goal for the NTC, which has said it will not proclaim Libya's liberation and begin preparing for the transition to an elected government until the city has fallen. The regime began its siege of Sirte on September 15 before launching what it termed a "final assault" last Friday that has seen at least 95 of its fighters killed and hundreds wounded, according to medics.AFP