[Tripoli Post] Libyan National Transitional Council fighters battling to capture Sirte, one of the remaining bastions still loyal to the former Libyan leader Muammar Al Qathafi, made an important strategic gain as they managed to take control of the port in the easter side of the Mediterranean coastal city. Commander Mustafa bin Dardef from the Zintan brigade, confirmed the gain by saying: "There were clashes in the night and we now are controlling the port."
Fighting for Al Qathafi's hometown, that is rumoured to be housing one of the his sons, Muatassim, reportedly directing the loyalist troops, intensified in the past days after a lull on Sunday when the NTC fighters made a tactical retreat to allow NATO to carry out its raids that continued on Monday.
Sirte has been besieged by NTC fighters on three fronts, the south, east and west. Tuesday morning they were preparing to make another push towards the centre of the city the site of Al Qathafi's heavily fortified compound and military bunkers.
Monday witnessed some street fighting and more face-to-face fighting is expected Tuesday as the anti-Al Qathafi forces move advance further into the centre of the city.
On Monday , as they ventured into the city, NTC fighters picked up light weapons dropped by members of the Al Qathafi forces as they fled the scene, and also captured a large weapons cache belonging to the fugitive leader's loyalists.