Tuesday, October 18, 2011

#Sirte 1000 Libyan fighters have launched a major assault on Sirte, surging from the eastward


Gihan Badi
About 1000  fighters have launched a major assault on , surging from the east  

Libyan forces launch offensive from east side of Gadhafi’s hometown

By Associated Press, Updated: Tuesday, October 18, 5:16 AM

SIRTE, Libya — About 1,000 Libyan revolutionary troops have launched a major assault on Moammar Gadhafi’s hometown, surging from the east to try to capture the last area under loyalist control.
Tuesday’s push to rout the remaining resistance from Sirte came a day after commanders announced they had captured most of a second stronghold, Bani Walid.
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  • ( Abdel Magid al-Fergany / Associated Press ) - British Foreign Secretary William Hague, left, shakes hands with Libya’s interim leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, the head of the governing National Transitional Council in Tripoli, Libya, Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. Britain’s foreign secretary says it’s “very, very important” to catch Moammar Gadhafi and other former Libyan regime figures wanted by the International Criminal Court. William Hague made the comments Monday during a visit to Tripoli. He also promised more humanitarian aid and says the final shipment of Libyan cash that had been frozen in the United Kingdom will be returned soon.
  • ( Abdel Magid al-Fergany / Associated Press ) - British Foreign Secretary William Hague, left, poses for a photo with Libya’s interim leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, the head of the governing National Transitional Council in Tripoli, Libya, Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. Britain’s foreign secretary says it’s “very, very important” to catch Moammar Gadhafi and other former Libyan regime figures wanted by the International Criminal Court. William Hague made the comments Monday during a visit to Tripoli. He also promised more humanitarian aid and says the final shipment of Libyan cash that had been frozen in the United Kingdom will be returned soon.
  • ( Abdel Magid al-Fergany / Associated Press ) - British Foreign Secretary William Hague looks on during a news conference in Tripoli, Libya, Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. Britain’s foreign secretary says it’s “very, very important” to catch Moammar Gadhafi and other former Libyan regime figures wanted by the International Criminal Court. William Hague made the comments Monday during a visit to Tripoli. He also promised more humanitarian aid and says the final shipment of Libyan cash that had been frozen in the United Kingdom will be returned soon.
  • ( Abdel Magid al-Fergany / Associated Press ) - British Foreign Secretary William Hague speaks to reporters in Tripoli, Libya, Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. Britain’s foreign secretary says it’s “very, very important” to catch Moammar Gadhafi and other former Libyan regime figures wanted by the International Criminal Court. William Hague made the comments Monday during a visit to Tripoli. He also promised more humanitarian aid and says the final shipment of Libyan cash that had been frozen in the United Kingdom will be returned soon.
( Abdel Magid al-Fergany / Associated Press ) - British Foreign Secretary William Hague, left, shakes hands with Libya’s interim leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, the head of the governing National Transitional Council in Tripoli, Libya, Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. Britain’s foreign secretary says it’s “very, very important” to catch Moammar Gadhafi and other former Libyan regime figures wanted by the International Criminal Court. William Hague made the comments Monday during a visit to Tripoli. He also promised more humanitarian aid and says the final shipment of Libyan cash that had been frozen in the United Kingdom will be returned soon.
Libyan fighters have squeezed the die-hard Gadhafi supporters into an area comprising just a few blocks in Sirte but have been unable to gain full control of the city.
It has been more than two months since the former rebels gained control of the capital and much of the rest of the oil-rich North African nation. Persistent fighting has prevented Libya’s new leaders from declaring final victory and setting a timeline for elections.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Posted by Robby Ball at 3:18 AM