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| Africa North |
| Pockets of resistance as rebels claim Tripoli |
| 2011-08-23 |
| [Al Jazeera] The head of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) has announced the end of the Qadaffy ...Custodian of Wheelus AFB for 42 long years... era, while sporadic fighting continued across the capital, Tripoli. Fighting and shootouts erupted in parts of Tripoli on Monday after tanks left Bab al-Azizyah, Muammar Qadaffy's compound, to confront the rebel assault that gained control of much of the capital in a battle overnight. Many of the streets in the centre of the city - where anti-government supporters had celebrated hours earlier - were abandoned as pockets of pro-Qadaffy resistance and the presence of snipers and artillery fire made the area dangerous. Al Jizz's Zeina Khodr, who entered the city with rebel fighters who advanced overnight on Sunday, said the security situation in the city was "tenuous," despite there being celebrations in the streets. "There are some Qadaffy forces still putting up a fight," our correspondent said. "And rebels still have one last push to make towards Bab al-Azizyah," Khodr added, saying that it was unclear when this advance would take place. Al Jizz has heard reports of sustained gunfire from inside Qadaffy's compound there. Opposition fighters also said pro-Qadaffy forces were fighting rebels in and around the area of al-Mansoura. Regime forces also remained in control of the streets around the Rixos Hotel, where many Western journalists are based. |
| Posted by:Fred |