Libya: rebels prepare to seize Bani Walid Rebel forces in Libya are preparing to seize the key town of Bani Walid, south of Tripoli as Col Muammar Gaddafi prepared his last stand.

Anti-Gaddafi fighters stand on an SA-5 SAM missile in Burkan air defence military base, 70 kms from Bani Walid Photo: REUTERS

By Richard Spencer, Tripoli

Saif al-Islam and Mutassim Gaddafi, two of the former dictator's sons, were said to be leading last-ditch defences in the town, a gateway to the desert and the family's ancestral home in the city of Sebha.

An ultimatum given to the last three major Gaddafi strongholds, Bani Walid, Sebha and Sirte expires today, and while that for Sirte has been extended by a week rebel troops were put on stand-by to move immediately on Bani Walid.

But a source close to Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) told The Daily Telegraph last night that local tribal leaders had agreed to hand over the town after forcing pro-Gaddafi troops to leave.

The claim could not be confirmed, but in any case rebel leaders were confident that the town was largely pro-rebel and would not resist."Believe me, the people there are ready to receive us, and we will attack very soon," said Dr Mahmoud Abdul Aziz, NTC member for the town.
The claim could not be confirmed, but in any case rebel leaders were confident that the town was largely pro-rebel and would not resist."Believe me, the people there are ready to receive us, and we will attack very soon," said Dr Mahmoud Abdul Aziz, NTC member for the town

The rebels believe 500-600 Gaddafi fighters to be in the town, and say they have "many thousands" with which to confront them. On Thursday, Col Abdulrazzaq al-Nadouli, the deputy commander of rebel forces in the town of Tarhouna, near the front line, said his troops were just 40 miles from Bani Walid.Saif al-Islam and his father both issued statements this week promising to fight on, but they may have to take their battle to Sebha.The local population there is known to be more fiercely loyal than in Bani Walid, which is split.Moussa Ibrahim, the regime spokesman, said last night that he had been with Saif al-Islam travelling around close to Tripoli, meeting tribal leaders, and "preparing to retake the capital"

There was little sign of anyone taking that seriously in Tripoli, which was full of people celebrating the end of the Eid holiday and the fall of the regime in tumultuous style. The NTC announced it would transfer its headquarters from Benghazi to Tripoli in a week.