Libya: resistance weakens as troops advance into Gaddafi's hometown

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Columns of Libyan government forces pushed deeper into the heart of Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte on Saturday, fighting resistance that appeared ever weaker.

The advance by forces of the interim government, the National Transitional Council, which at one point came within 500 metres of the city's main road, was slowed by snipers in several apartment buildings and a bunker. But in some areas the fighters have made significant progress.

The advance came through an area know as the Seven Hundreds, a district of unfinished houses backed by a sprawling suburb that only fell to government forces during fierce fighting on Friday that continued late into the night. Yesterday it was a ghost town, the streets littered with empty shell casings and smashed cars. The area is next to a compound belonging to the former dictator and includes a military base which yesterday was under control of NTC fighters.

On Friday a bulldozer was widening a sandy road leading to a breach in the wall encircling the neighbourhood which defenders had used as a firing position for weeks. Deserted villas showed signs of the heavy fighting, with holes made by shells and RPGs in the walls of many houses.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/08/libya-resistance-weakens-gaddafi-hometown

[MADem]

1. All over but the heaving sobs, kicks and pouts, I think. NT

[daleo]

4. There is still plenty of time for IEDs and all that

Internecine fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq are still going strong.

[MADem]

5. Well, I'm talking about the dotting the final i on the transfer of government thing.

Who knows what will happen after that? Libya has never had an opportunity to have a cooperative governmental entity--it's a new territory for them. They've always had some strongarm asshole telling them what to do from a Hate/Fear/Respect perch. I hope they get it together and do well.

[L. Coyote]

2. Last week's headline all over again?

[joshcryer]

3. Link?