Fighters advanced on one of Moamer Gaddafi’s last remaining bastions on Sunday, as Libya’s new leaders called for the ousted strongman to stand trial in his homeland when captured.
A commander of the fighters said talks aimed at securing the peaceful surrender of Gaddafi’s forces in Bani Walid had been abandoned and an assault on the oasis town southeast of Tripoli was imminent. “We are getting ready,” said Mohamed al-Fassi, checkpoint commander in the village of Shishan, 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of Bani Walid.
“Negotiations between Gaddafi’s men and our forces have ended. These people aren’t serious. Twice they promised to surrender only to go back on their word,” he said. A local spokesman for the National Transitional Council (NTC) now governing Libya said the frontline stood 15 to 20 kilometres (10 to 12 miles) north of Bani Walid and that troops were poised for an advance.
“We are waiting for orders to go into the city,” Mahmud Abdelaziz said.
“Last night the Gaddafi forces tried to move out. Our fighters responded and there were some clashes lasting a few minutes.” The new government’s interim interior minister Ahmed Darrat told AFP he was confident the town’s capture was imminent. “We expect Bani Walid to be freed today or tomorrow,” he said.
