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Battles drag on in Gaddafi hometown, villagers continue to flee

02 October 2011 03:46 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Fighters from Libya’s ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) and the remnant forces of fallen leader Muammar Gaddafi continued Saturday their fighting in Sirte, Gaddafi’s hometown, causing casualties on both sides as well as to the civilians, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

According to a Xinhua photographer near Sirte, the NTC fighters ran up against heavy shootings by snipers loyal to Gaddafi at Sirte’s western entrance, while explosions could be heard from inside the town, which had witnessed weeks of clashes.

At the demand of the international Red Cross members, the NTC fighters once stopped firing so the vehicles carrying the wounded could leave the war-torn town, the Xinhua reporter said.

Sirte has been without drinking water, electricity and adequate food supply, while residents continued to flee the town.

According to Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television, the NTC fighters have got the control of the headquarters of Saadi Brigade and the so-called Area One in Sirte.

The NTC said recently that it had controlled the airport and an air base in Sirte, and that one of Gaddafi’s son Muatassim had been holed up in the town.

Meanwhile, sources told Xinhua on Saturday that a total of around 20 foreigners, who gathered in suburban Sirte, were drawing coordinate maps of the town which would help enhance the accuracy of NATO’s airstrikes in and around Sirte.

The foreigners were seen with advanced radar systems and night- vision equipment, said the source, who insisted not to be named.

The NTC said earlier that the remnant forces of Gaddafi used human shields in the town of Sirte which made offensives difficult.