NTC troops encircle Sirte
- 13 years ago
So close and yet so far.
Sirte is one of Muammar Gaddafi's last bastions.
The city is encircled by National Transitional Council forces but Gaddafi loyalists are making sure their progress is slow.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FIELD COMMANDER, UMRAN AL-UWEYWI, SAYING:
"We are advancing to gain ground to get control over some areas - the area around the airport, Gardabya - and the area right of the coastal road, and also Dahra, if the enemy has a presence in Dahra. Otherwise we would take it as our centre so all the rebels coming in from different areas can meet there and have control over a precise territory in the area right of the coastal road."
As fighting continues, humanitarian organisations are worried about the worsening situation in Sirte.
Taking the city would bring the NTC one step closer to gaining control of the whole country, more than a month after they seized the capital Tripoli.
Gaddafi's whereabouts are still a cause of rumour and speculation.
Lily Grimes, Reuters
Sirte is one of Muammar Gaddafi's last bastions.
The city is encircled by National Transitional Council forces but Gaddafi loyalists are making sure their progress is slow.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FIELD COMMANDER, UMRAN AL-UWEYWI, SAYING:
"We are advancing to gain ground to get control over some areas - the area around the airport, Gardabya - and the area right of the coastal road, and also Dahra, if the enemy has a presence in Dahra. Otherwise we would take it as our centre so all the rebels coming in from different areas can meet there and have control over a precise territory in the area right of the coastal road."
As fighting continues, humanitarian organisations are worried about the worsening situation in Sirte.
Taking the city would bring the NTC one step closer to gaining control of the whole country, more than a month after they seized the capital Tripoli.
Gaddafi's whereabouts are still a cause of rumour and speculation.
Lily Grimes, Reuters