Forces of Libya’s new regime rallied as they were preparing for a new push in the Home Town of fugitive strongman Muammar Gaddafi.
Forces of Libya’s new regime rallied as they were preparing for a new push in the Home Town of fugitive strongman Muammar Gaddafi.
Fierce resistance from Gaddafi loyalists forced NTC fighters to retreat on Thursday to the central police headquarters.
"Yesterday evening, we used artillery cannon to shell the neighborhoods," Nasser Moghassabi, a frontline field commander with the Martyrs of Free Libya Brigade told AFP news agency.
"The situation today remains the same. We are still surrounding the two neighborhoods."
He said scouts had been sent in, "and very soon we will decide on the next plan of action."
Four pro-NTC fighters were killed on Thursday, including two by friendly fire, and another 40 were wounded, mostly by snipers, said Rawad Friwan, a surgeon at a field hospital on Sirte's western outskirts.
"There are still 500 pro-Kadhafi fighters in Sirte and our forces today arrested 15" of them, said Fayisal Ahmed Bringo, a new regime fighter.
NTC field commander Beloun al-Shaari of the Martyrs of the Mountains Brigade told AFP the strategy was "to close in inch by inch."
"Around 800 to 1,000 people are still in the area. Many of them are civilians, something which is making it a bit difficult for us to launch a big attack, but God willing, by tomorrow (Friday) we should be in control of that area," he said.
Sirte is a key goal for Libya's new leaders who have said they will not proclaim the country's liberation and begin preparing for the transition to an elected government until the city has fallen.
NTC TRACKING GADDAFI 
Meanwhile, NTC leaders said that Gaddafi was in the southern desert region of the country, and that it was only a matter of time before he could be captured.
Abdul Hafiz Ghoga, the vice-chairman of the NTC, told Qatari-based TV Al Jazeera on Thursday that satellites have been tracking the former Libyan leader south of Sabha.
"We have confirmed reports that Gaddafi is in the southern Libyan desert. He's not staying in one place. He is moving around with a small convoy which consists of his closest aides and bodyguards," he said.
Ghoga added that the fighters' priority was currently to take full control of Sirte.
"Once the liberation of Sirte has been achieved – our fighters will track down Gaddafi himself."
