New Libya forces enter Sirte via east

Hundreds of fighters for Libya’s new rulers entered Muammar Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte from the east yesterday as others west of the city held their ground, AFP correspondents said.

Flashing V-for-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.

Four ambulances with sirens blazing sped out of the east gate reportedly with casualties suffered by some fighters inside the city.

“We had set up a checkpoint some kilometres (miles) inside the city when it was shelled by Gaddafi’s forces. There are casualties from that attack,” a fighter at the eastern gate said as the ambulances raced away east of Sirte.

It was unclear how many fighters were injured or killed.

“There are clashes inside the city. Two small girls were killed today (yesterday) when a Grad rocket fired by Gaddafi forces hit a home in Sirte,” said Makhluf al-Farjani, spokesman of Sirte’s military council.

Mar’ee Saleh of the Ali Hassan Jabar Brigade said his troops were inside Sirte, and that he had seen Nato warplanes carry out several air strikes during the day.

“We are fighting with Kalashnikovs and small arms around the city centre,” said Mr Saleh.

“We are firing at Gaddafi’s men but their return fire is not very strong,” he said as he exited the eastern gate and stray bullets flew around the area.

A Sirte resident backed up his account of having seen the Nato air strikes.

“I have left my home with my family after rebels told me to leave the city. Nato also carried out several raids since yesterday,” Ahmed Faraj, 65, said.

“There has been no electricity for the past few days in my area, while water is in short supply,” said Mr Faraj, whose family was leaving the city’s eastern gate in three cars.

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 stranglehold positions inside Sirte.

West of Sirte, however, NTC forces held their ground saying they had received instructions not to launch a fresh assault into Sirte to allow Natoto 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.

“Yesterday I went 13 kilometres inside the city from this gate and then retreated to the gate,” the fighter added.

Fighters stationed west of Sirte said they had been told by the Nato coalition to stay put yesterday and hold back a planned new assault on the city.

“There is no fighting today (yesterday), there is nobody inside the city. We were ordered to leave downtown Sirte because Nato has a mission to do there. We left after 7p.m. last night,” said fighter Ahmed Mohammed Tajuri.