Hundreds of fighters for Libya’s new rulers entered Muammar Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte from the east on Sunday as others west of the city held their ground, AFP correspondents said. Flashing victory signs, the fighters moved into Sirte on pickup trucks and larger lorries, backed by three artillery tanks as they shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest), one correspondent witnessed.
As they rolled in from the eastern gate, two ambulances sped out of Sirte sirens ablaze and other National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters emerged from the Gaddafi bastion, where they said there were small arms firefights. “We are fighting with Kalashnikovs and small arms around the city centre,” Mar’ee Saleh of the Ali Hassan Jabar Brigade told AFP, adding his troops were inside Sirte.
“We are firing at Gaddafi’s men but their return fire is not very strong,” he said as he exited from the eastern gate. Saleh added that “NATO carried out several strikes today. I saw them myself.” As he spoke stray bullets were flying around the eastern gate. Many of the pickup trucks entering the city carried food and water supplies, as well as mattresses, an indication the fighters were planning to take positions inside Sirte, the correspondent said.
West of Sirte, however, NTC forces held their ground saying they had received instructions not to launch a fresh assault into Sirte to allow NATO to carry out some operations. Earlier one of the fighters stationed at the eastern gate said fighters were looking for land mines. “We fear that Gaddafi forces have buried land mines on the outskirts of the city. So we are careful. So far today it has been quiet after heavy clashes yesterday,” said frontline fighter Abdul Hameed.
