The rebels claim they have entered Gaddafi’s Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli, where Colonel Gaddafi has possibly found shelter for the last three days. Reuters correspondents report they can see Libyan rebels firing into air inside Bab al-Aziziya compounds, celebrating their success. Rebel sources told Al Jazeera they have entered Colonel Gaddafi’s house and raised their flag over it. The claims have not been verified yet.
Sources on the ground say that NATO jets were struck at watch towers, walls and other buildings in the Bab al-Aziziya complex earlier in the day, reports the Daily Telegraph.
NATO could not confirm that it has launched an air strike against the compound, but acknowledged that their aircraft were operating over Tripoli on Tuesday. The Libyan opposition forces now claim to be in control of about 93 per cent of Tripoli, says Al Arabiya news channel. It is believed the fresh shooting in Tripoli has been inspired by the appearance in front of the loyalist public of one of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s sons, Saif al Islam, who yesterday had been reported as captured by loyalist forces. Gaddafi’s son rallied with supporters and disclaimed most of the rebels’ victory claims, insisting Tripoli remains under the government’s control. The sky above the city of two million people is clouded with columns of white and black smoke rising from the ground. The ground is shaking with explosions, mainly from those of bombs dropped by NATO air force supporting the rebels.
NATO-member leaders have persistently demanded that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi step down and smoothly transfer power to the rebels’ National Transitional Council, but the British MP David Cameron has already stated that the very life of the colonel will depend on the goodwill of his opponents, who have openly been calling for his head over the last half-year of civil war. Muammar Gaddafi’s whereabouts are still a matter of speculation. Saif al Islam claimed during his appearance at Rixos Hotel that the Colonel is still in Tripoli.
But NATO said on Tuesday it does not know where Gaddafi is. The bloc also played down the Libyan leader’s importance in the conflict in the North African country, saying “he is not a key player anymore.”
Moreover, Gaddafi’s leaving the country will not interrupt NATO operations in the country, as the bloc’s mission is to protect civilians, added Colonel Roland Lavoie, NATO’s spokesman. Meanwhile, Russian Chess Federation chief Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said he has spoken to Gaddafi on Tuesday afternoon. “I am alive and healthy, I am in Tripoli and do not intend to leave Libya,” Ilyumzhinov quoted the Libyan leader as saying.
