Libyan provisional government forces backed by NATO warplanes swarmed into the city of Sirte on Saturday but weathered heavy sniper fire as they tried to win control of one of deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi’s last bastions of support.
Black smoke billowed over the town as National Transitional Council (NTC) forces massed in Zafran Square about 1 km (half a mile) from the town centre. Gunfire could be heard from the centre as NTC fighters moved tanks and mortars into the square. Pick-up trucks mounted with machineguns and loaded with NTC fighters raced into the town.
NTC forces also advanced from the south of Sirte, Gaddafi’s hometown on the Mediterranean coast. “They have snipers above the mosques, above the buildings.
