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    September 28, 2011

Intense Fighting Continues in Gadhafi Stronghold

   VOA News
   An anti-Gadhafi fighter (L) calms his comrade down as he cries over
   other comrades stuck in the fire fight against pro-Gadhafi forces
   around east of Sirte, September 27, 2011.
   Photo: Reuters
   An anti-Gadhafi fighter (L) calms his comrade down as he cries over
   other comrades stuck in the fire fight against pro-Gadhafi forces
   around east of Sirte, September 27, 2011.

   Intense fighting in the besieged Libyan city of Sirte has kept
   provisional government fighters from advancing in one of the few
   remaining strongholds of former leader Moammar Gadhafi's supporters.
   National Transitional Authority forces say they have captured the
   city's port, but Gadhafi loyalists still control most of Sirte.
   NATO said Tuesday about 200,000 civilians, mainly in Sirte and Bani
   Walid, are still threatened by pro-Gadhafi forces.
   Earlier Tuesday, NTC fighters and elders from Gadhafi's tribe were
   trying to negotiate a truce that would allow safe passage for families
   trying to leave Sirte.
   Meanwhile, a White House spokesman said the United States is working
   with the NTC to help secure weapons stockpiles in Libya. Jay Carney
   said a State Department official is in Libya working with provisional
   leaders to develop a program for controlling and destroying
   shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles. He also said the U.S. is working
   with NATO to provide the NTC with all known locations of weapons.
   Also Tuesday, Tunisian appeals court has overturned an illegal entry
   conviction against former Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmudi.
   Judicial officials dismissed the charges against the Gadhafi-era
   minister.
   Last week, a Tunisian court sentenced Mahmudi to six months in prison
   on the illegal entry charges. Tunisian officials said Tuesday that they
   had not received an extradition request from Libya.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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