Former rebel fighters clashed yesterday with pro-Gaddafi forces at the oasis town of Bani Walid and were closing in on Sirte, poised for all-out assaults on the fallen leader’s remaining strongholds.
Medics said at least two fighters were killed and 12 wounded in the skirmishes on the outskirts of Bani Walid, near to where forces loyal to Libya’s new rulers were massed, waiting for the final signal to storm the town.
Interim leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil on Saturday gave the green light to attack Bani Walid southeast of Tripoli, Col Gaddafi’s hometown Sirte to the east and Sabha in the deep south after declaring the deadline for pro-Gaddafi enclaves to surrender over.
While united on the front lines, political tensions were, however, beginning to show between the ex-rebels in a number of regions, including in west Libya where fighting between anti-Gaddafi rival groups left 12 people dead, officials said.
Streams of National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters backed by armoured vehicles mounted with anti-aircraft guns arrived during the day on the edge of Bani Walid, 180 kilometres from Tripoli, an AFP correspondent said.
The fighters said they had routed Gaddafi loyalists and snipers from Wadi Dinar, a valley in the shadow of Bani Walid, as they pushed towards the oasis.
Clashes broke out in the afternoon in the Bani Walid neighbourhoods of Al-Mansila and Al-Hawasim, according to fighter Ahmed al-Warfalli, who added that heavy weapons were used.
Military commanders insisted that the main assault had yet to begin, however.
“Today we are still on standby and waiting for orders,” said one commander, General Atiya Ali Tarhuni.
A pro-Gaddafi radio station all afternoon broadcast an appeal to residents to rally against the attackers. “Go out on the streets to protect Warfalla, they are coming to kill us,” it said, referring to the main tribe in the area.
“They want to spread corruption and destruction everywhere. Go today, today, today – now you are armed, there is no excuse. This is the time for jihad (holy warfare).”
By evening, ambulances were rushing to and from the front line, as paramedics reported two fighters killed and 12 wounded – shot by snipers or injured in explosions.