1 of 16. Anti-Gaddafi fighters return fire at pro-Gaddafi forces, around 8 km (5 miles) east of Sirte, September 26, 2011.
Credit: Reuters/Asmaa Waguih
SIRTE |
(Reuters) - Libyan provisional government forces backed by NATO warplanes raced through the eastern outskirts of Sirte on Monday, closing in on Muammar Gaddafi loyalists holed up in one of the last two bastions of the deposed leader.
Thick, black smoke billowed into the air as National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters battled loyalist troops at a roundabout about 2 km (1.2 mile) from the center of Gaddafi's home town, Reuters journalists said.
The thud of large explosions could be heard as NATO aircraft roared overhead. NTC fighters said the jets were striking the positions of Gaddafi loyalists.
The advance came two days after anti-Gaddafi fighters west of Sirte drove to within a few hundred meters of its center before pulling back on Sunday to make way for NATO strikes.
On the western edges of Sirte on Monday, NTC fighters and Gaddafi loyalists traded heavy machine gun fire, rocket-propelled grenades and artillery rounds.
Snipers loyal to Gaddafi could be seen on building rooftops. NATO aircraft flew overhead.
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