Residents flee as NTC troops probe Gaddafi hometown

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Residents flee as NTC troops probe Gaddafi hometown

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Desperate residents fled Moammar Gaddafi's hometown Sirte as NTC troops city's eastern outskirts.

24 September,2011 03:45 am

The fighters of Libyas interim government probed the citys eastern outskirts in anticipation of a final assault on one of the fallen leaders two remaining bastions.A commander of National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters near Sirte said pro-Gaddafi forces were targeting residents even as they fled, with a fighter killed and a packed family car destroyed when their convoy was hit.NATO said it was nearing the final phase of its air war in Libya, a day after warplanes struck just one target in an intense bombing campaign that has lasted six months.And a commander of the new regime said a captured general loyal to Gaddafi had said the fugitive Libyan leader was secretly moving around in the southern desert.One month to the day since Gaddafis compound fell to rebels in Tripoli, the campaign to take Sirte and the ex-Libyan leaders other principal remaining bastion of Bani Walid was on hold for another day.But commanders and fighters said they had probed the citys eastern outskirts without resistance.Our fighters are in control of the eastern gate of Sirte, commander Ahmed Zlitni from the operations centre said.They are two kilometres (1.2 miles) ahead of the gate and holding positions there. Technically we can say that we entered Sirte from the east, Zlitni said, adding that the fighters did not face any resistance when they crossed.Three to four brigades have entered through the eastern gate, confirmed commander Mohammed al-Marimi.Asked why NTC fighters were delaying a final assault on Sirte, commander Osama Muttawa Swehly said: Were trying to get the families out.We are averaging between 400 to 500 cars a day. We are basically trying to starve (the Gaddafi forces) out.He said one escape convoy had come under fire from anti-aircraft guns, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms.One fighter was killed and one family car was destroyed, he said, with an unknown number of occupants also presumably killed.We are giving the families every chance to get out. Once that stream turns into a trickle then stops, then it will be time to act, he added.