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Rebels pushing to secure Tripoli Rebels pushing to secure Tripoli
(40 minutes later)
Tripoli has seen running battles between Libyan rebels and forces loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi, a day after the fugitive leader's compound was overrun. Libyan rebels and forces loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi have fought running battles in Tripoli, a day after the fugitive leader's compound was overrun.
Rebels fought loyalists in several southern and central areas of the capital, including on the new frontline to the east of the main airport. The two sides clashed in several southern and central areas of the capital, and opened a new frontline to the east of the main airport.
Meanwhile, two explosions shook the city as Nato jets passed overhead.Meanwhile, two explosions shook the city as Nato jets passed overhead.
Col Gaddafi's whereabouts are unknown, but overnight he vowed in a speech to fight until victory or martyrdom.Col Gaddafi's whereabouts are unknown, but overnight he vowed in a speech to fight until victory or martyrdom.
In a broadcast speech, he said he had made a "tactical" retreat from his vast Bab al-Aziziya compound but the BBC's Wyre Davies reports from the city that nobody there believes that version of events. A pro-regime television channel, al-Uruba, broadcast an audio statement in which he said his decision to leave his Bab al-Aziziya compound was a "tactical" move.
Pro-Gaddafi snipers appeared in Bab al-Aziziya itself after it was overrun by the rebels and the battle for complete control of Tripoli is continuing. He urged Libyans to cleanse the streets of "traitors, infidels and rats", and said he had "been out a bit in Tripoli discreetly, without being seen".
Col Gaddafi is thought to retain a strong following in two other cities, Sirte on the coast and Sabha 650km (400 miles) south of the capital, where fighting erupted this week. "It did not feel like Tripoli had fallen or someone had marched into it."
This is day five now of what you might call the siege of the Rixos Hotel and it is a desperate situation for about 35 foreign nationals here including Britons, a US congressman and other Americans, and an Indian MP. The rebels later offered a $1.67m (£1m) reward to anyone who captured or killed Col Gaddafi. Commanders said it was vital to do so to eliminate any chance that he and his supporters could strike back.
The situation deteriorated massively overnight when it became clear that we were unable to leave the hotel of our own free will. Gunmen were roaming around the corridors, some of them, it seemed, trained professional Gaddafi soldiers. They insisted it was only a matter of time before he was found, but conceded they had no indication of where he might have taken refuge.
We believe there are still snipers on the roof of the hotel and effectively our movements are curtailed... There is a huge amount of apprehension and nervousness among the journalists stuck here in this hotel. One rebel official, who gave his name as Abdul Rahman, told the Reuters news agency that it was thought that Col Gaddafi was still in Tripoli, possibly in the southern al-Hadhba area, where there was fighting.
He is also believed to retain a strong following in two other cities - Sirte, his hometown 450km (280 miles) to the east of the capital, and Sabha, 650km to the south in the desert.
Meanwhile, the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) means to begin the business of rebuilding the battle-scarred country, with a donor conference in Qatar and the dispatch of a team of officials from their stronghold Benghazi to Tripoli. Analysts say Sabha has a significant military and air force base and, if Col Gaddafi and his family can reach it, it would provide them the option of easy desert escape routes into Niger or Chad.
Gaddafi vanishes A rebel spokesman told the BBC that negotiations were going on with local leaders in Sabha and Sirte seeking a peaceful end to the conflict.
Gunfire was heard again on Wednesday morning close to Tripoli's Rixos Hotel, where 35 foreign nationals, mostly journalists, have been confined by Gaddafi loyalists. 'Fight to the death'
A Reuters reporter who was in the area around midday (10:00 GMT) heard rifle fire and heavy anti-aircraft guns, which have been used by both sides against ground targets. Despite thousands of rebel fighters overrunning Col Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound in Tripoli on Tuesday evening, they were still meeting fierce resistance from well-armed loyalists on Wednesday.
One rebel leader told AFP news agency that pro-Gaddafi forces were hidden on the road to the airport. Muammar Gaddafi may have lost political control of the country he ruled with an iron grip for more than 40 years, but his loyal troops are refusing to go quietly.
Armed residents in Tripoli remain vigilant as they continue to man their makeshift checkpoints with the help of rebel fighters, the BBC's Rana Jawad reports from the city. As I went inside his former compound in the heart of Tripoli this morning, I saw rebel fighters being pushed back as a fierce fire-fight ensued in the inner circle of Bab al-Aziziya. These men, many of whom will have protected their leader for many years and are well-armed and professional soldiers, will almost certainly fight to the death. All day long, gunfire and artillery fire has hit the compound with those inside firing out.
It was unclear what targets Nato was attacking but one unconfirmed report on Al-Arabiya TV said that loyalist artillery had been shelling the towns of Zuara and Ajelat, west of the capital. Few of the rebel fighters are yet ready to talk about whatever political future faces Libya post-Gaddafi. Their immediate goal is to capture or kill a man who has said he will fight until the bitter end.
It is not known if Col Gaddafi and his family were in Bab al-Aziziya on Tuesday when it was attacked but the leader promised "martyrdom or victory" in his speech. The BBC's Wyre Davies says the rebels are using artillery to try to flush out gunmen entrenched in the centre of the compound.
In audio broadcast by the pro-Gaddafi Al-Urubah TV on Tuesday night, the Libyan leader added: "I came out undercover from my home in Tripoli without people seeing me and I found young people on the streets. To be honest, I did not feel like Tripoli had fallen or that some had marched into it." Many of the loyalists are members of the fugitive leader's tribe or professional soldiers, and are prepared to fight to the death, our correspondent adds.
The Gaddafi family are believed to have access to numerous safe houses in Tripoli and beyond, and the situation is unclear in the colonel's hometown of Sirte, which has been a stronghold of his loyalists. "There are snipers above and around the perimeter of Bab al-Aziziya; there are dozens of them but we don't know where they are," rebel commander Nouri Mohammed told the AFP news agency.
Sabha has a significant military and air force base and, if Col Gaddafi can reach it, it would provide him the option of easy desert escape routes into neighbouring Niger and Chad, according to the Associated Press news agency. There has also been gunfire in the area around the capital's Rixos Hotel, where a number of foreign journalists have been trapped.
A rebel spokesman told the BBC negotiations were going on with people in Sabha and Sirte for a peaceful end to the conflict. A Reuters reporter who was in the area around midday (10:00 GMT) said automatic weapons and anti-aircraft guns were being fired.
There were also reports that that pro-Gaddafi forces had hidden on the road to the international airport, and that the fighting had spread to the areas of Abu Salim and al-Zuwara.
Witnesses say armed residents in Tripoli are continuing to man makeshift checkpoints with the help of rebel fighters.
Law and order does not appear to have broken down and celebrations have been continuing in Green Square.
The rebel administration, known as the National Transitional Council (NTC), estimates that about 400 people have been killed and thousands injured in the battle for Tripoli since Sunday.
The International Red Cross says the fighting in Tripoli has left many civilians injured. A spokesman said doctors were finding it difficult to reach hospitals in and around the capital because of continuing battles.
Funding appealFunding appeal
NTV representatives have been preparing for high-level talks in Qatar with envoys of the US, UK, France, Turkey and the UAE to discuss how to move ahead in the post-Gaddafi Libya. Earlier, an NTC spokesman told the BBC it had started the process of moving its headquarters to Tripoli from its stronghold of Benghazi.
The head of the NTC's acting cabinet, Mahmoud Jibril, said it was seeking $2.5bn (£1.5bn) in immediate aid. He said several council members were already in the capital and others were on their way.
But the BBC's Jon Leyne in Benghazi said that with Gaddafi loyalists still fighting back, the NTC seems hesitant about a full move.
The rebels also confirmed on Wednesday that their swift advance on Tripoli was part of a long-planned operation - Mermaid Dawn - that was co-ordinated with Nato. Groups of rebels were trained in Benghazi then sent undercover to the capital, to wait for the signal to fight.
NTC representatives have also been preparing for high-level talks in Qatar with envoys of the US, UK, France, Turkey and the UAE to discuss how to move ahead in a post-Gaddafi Libya.
The head of the NTC's cabinet, Mahmoud Jibril, said it was seeking $2.5bn (£1.5bn) in immediate aid.
Its immediate priority is to pay employees' salaries and cover humanitarian costs but, in the longer term, money will be needed to repair Libya's oil infrastructure.Its immediate priority is to pay employees' salaries and cover humanitarian costs but, in the longer term, money will be needed to repair Libya's oil infrastructure.
Mr Jibril estimates that Libya has some $160-170bn in frozen assets. The US has said it will try to release up to $1.5bn in frozen Libyan assets. Mr Jibril estimates that Libya has some $160-170bn in frozen assets. The US has said it will try to release up to $1.5bn, while British and French diplomats are working with their allies to draft a resolution that would free funds blocked by UN Security Council sanctions.
The rebels swept into Tripoli at the weekend, and by Tuesday had overrun Col Gaddafi's compound. Mr Jibril is expected to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy later.
The uprising against Col Gaddafi's 41-year rule began in February. The rebels held the east of the country and pockets of the west, before making their push towards the capital at the weekend.The uprising against Col Gaddafi's 41-year rule began in February. The rebels held the east of the country and pockets of the west, before making their push towards the capital at the weekend.
Nato air strikes have been targeting Col Gaddafi's forces, acting on a UN mandate to protect civilians. Critics accuse the alliance of siding with the rebels. Nato air strikes have been targeting Col Gaddafi's forces, acting on a UN mandate to protect civilians. Critics accuse it of siding with the rebels.
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