@NewsInLibyaNews in Libya
Libya: NTC tanks bombard Sirte
National Transitional Council tanks push into the hometown of fugitive dictator Col Gaddafi amid claims senior members of the regime are in hiding there.
Tanks and howitzers showered the city with missiles in an attempt to prise the last outpost loyal to Col Gaddafi from regime loyalists.
National Transitional Council (NTC) forces have been poised to declare victory in Sirte for days, but were forced to retreat on Tuesday after taking intense fire from the dwindling band of pro-Gaddafi fighters boxed into a residential area of the city.
A NTC commander estimated that "more than five hundred Gaddafi loyalists" were hiding in the besieged district.
"Most probably there are very important figures among them, I hope we can arrest them or kill them soon, it would be a big joy for all Libyans," he said.
He added that he was 85 per cent certain that Muammar Gaddafi, his son, Mo'tassim, and some of his ministers were still hiding in the city
The NTC will only formally declare the liberation of Libya when Sirte falls, paving the way for the country to create a fully-fledged government and democratic institutions.
