Refugees flee as final battle for Gaddafi stronghold begins

Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) says it is closing in on victory over deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi. Revolutionary fighters have tightened the noose on the remaining regime loyalists in the critical bastion of Sirte. Refugees flee as final battle for Gaddafi stronghold begins Smoke was reported drifting over the skyline late on Friday from explosions that thundered throughout the besieged city, as long lines of civilians fleeing by car were seen forming at checkpoints manned by revolutionary forces. Friday's push, which had been delayed to allow citizens to flee, marked the largest new assault in weeks. Anti-Gaddafi forces were said to have stormed Sirte from all sides in a bid to corner regime supporters into an ever smaller perimeter within the city. The latter responded with rockets and tank fire, and Gaddafi snipers continued to fire on fighters advancing through residential complexes. A senior U.S. defense official said in reference to the offensive that Gaddafi forces were "on the verge of defeat" in the key remaining bastion, claiming that victory could come as soon as the "next days." The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said commanders in Libya had confirmed that over 80 percent of Sirte was now under the control of anti-Gaddafi forces, and that Gaddafi himself - whose whereabouts remain unknown - had no influence over the militias that support him. "Everyone understands that this is entering a new phase in the near future," the defense official said, adding that the fall of Sirte would have a "crucial" influence on when NATO would end its UN-sanctioned Libya mission, which includes a no-fly zone, air strikes against forces attacking civilians and a maritime arms embargo. NATO has continued to carry out airstrikes on Sirte and other Gaddafi strongholds, such as Bani Walid - though the NTC has said that the central, landlocked city is not crucial to declaring liberation from Gaddafi. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, speaking Thursday at the U.S. Navy base in Naples, Italy, said several factors were being weighed up as NATO leaders decided when to end operations in Libya. In addition to the liberation of Sirte, they included an assessment of whether Libyan civilians faced any additional threats and whether the ruling Transitional National Council could provide sustainable security and governance. Panetta said the NTC was showing improvement in its ability to provide governance but that additional steps needed to be taken to ensure it could provide security in the long term. This may require some outside assistance, the defense official quoted Panetta as saying, without elaborating on the nature of such assistance or who would provide it. Panetta, former director of the CIA, visited the Navy base at Naples after a two-day meeting in Brussels with other NATO defense ministers, his first since taking over the job in July. In remarks to military personnel at the base, Panetta said the consensus in Brussels was that "NATO really proved itself" with the Libya operation. "At the time this mission was embarked on, there were a lot of critics about whether it was the right mission at the right time with the right force, whether NATO could do the job. I think the critics have really been proven wrong," he said. In Washington, meanwhile, the mood was equally positive on Friday. State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that the U.S. trusted Libyan authorities to make their declaration of liberation soon. "And I think it'll be a good thing to be able to move on to the next political and security steps, and the effort to ensure that the country is united and that the reconciliation can also begin," she told reporters. The international community, including Germany, has rallied around Libya's efforts to form a new government. Transitional leaders have promised elections within eight months after liberation from Gaddafi is declared. (Beta, file)

Refugees flee as final battle for Gaddafi stronghold begins

Smoke was reported drifting over the skyline late on Friday from explosions that thundered throughout the besieged city, as long lines of civilians fleeing by car were seen forming at checkpoints manned by revolutionary forces.

Friday's push, which had been delayed to allow citizens to flee, marked the largest new assault in weeks. Anti-Gaddafi forces were said to have stormed Sirte from all sides in a bid to corner regime supporters into an ever smaller perimeter within the city. The latter responded with rockets and tank fire, and Gaddafi snipers continued to fire on fighters advancing through residential complexes.

A senior U.S. defense official said in reference to the offensive that Gaddafi forces were "on the verge of defeat" in the key remaining bastion, claiming that victory could come as soon as the "next days."

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said commanders in Libya had confirmed that over 80 percent of Sirte was now under the control of anti-Gaddafi forces, and that Gaddafi himself - whose whereabouts remain unknown - had no influence over the militias that support him.

"Everyone understands that this is entering a new phase in the near future," the defense official said, adding that the fall of Sirte would have a "crucial" influence on when NATO would end its UN-sanctioned Libya mission, which includes a no-fly zone, air strikes against forces attacking civilians and a maritime arms embargo.

NATO has continued to carry out airstrikes on Sirte and other Gaddafi strongholds, such as Bani Walid - though the NTC has said that the central, landlocked city is not crucial to declaring liberation from Gaddafi.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, speaking Thursday at the U.S. Navy base in Naples, Italy, said several factors were being weighed up as NATO leaders decided when to end operations in Libya. In addition to the liberation of Sirte, they included an assessment of whether Libyan civilians faced any additional threats and whether the ruling Transitional National Council could provide sustainable security and governance.

Panetta said the NTC was showing improvement in its ability to provide governance but that additional steps needed to be taken to ensure it could provide security in the long term. This may require some outside assistance, the defense official quoted Panetta as saying, without elaborating on the nature of such assistance or who would provide it.

Panetta, former director of the CIA, visited the Navy base at Naples after a two-day meeting in Brussels with other NATO defense ministers, his first since taking over the job in July.

In remarks to military personnel at the base, Panetta said the consensus in Brussels was that "NATO really proved itself" with the Libya operation.

"At the time this mission was embarked on, there were a lot of critics about whether it was the right mission at the right time with the right force, whether NATO could do the job. I think the critics have really been proven wrong," he said.

In Washington, meanwhile, the mood was equally positive on Friday. State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said that the U.S. trusted Libyan authorities to make their declaration of liberation soon.

"And I think it'll be a good thing to be able to move on to the next political and security steps, and the effort to ensure that the country is united and that the reconciliation can also begin," she told reporters.

The international community, including Germany, has rallied around Libya's efforts to form a new government. Transitional leaders have promised elections within eight months after liberation from Gaddafi is declared.