Forces from Libya’s new regime launched an intensive assault on two areas of fallen strongman Muammar Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte Friday, bombarding his loyalists 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.
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 two kilometres west from the central police headquarters before pulling back. They had remained there overnight after retreating there under heavy fire on 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. It was reported that at least two regime fighters were killed in Friday’s fighting and around 15 wounded, some gravely and several by shrapnel.
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.
Meanwhile, NTC oil minister Ali Tarhuni vowed Libya would investigate “every penny” of suspect oil contracts signed under Gaddafi’s regime, which was responsible for what he called “unbelievable” corruption. “There will be specialised committees that will look into all these contracts and agreements, starting with the oil sector,” Tarhuni said, without giving details on contracts or companies.
Libya’s oil production, which collapsed after the uprising in February, is expected to rise to nearly one million barrels per day by April from the current 400,000, according to the state-run National Oil Co.
