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Tuesday, 23 August 2011

Rebel forces have swept into Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's Tripoli compound - but the Libyan leader's whereabouts are unknown.

El NACHO - 18:32

REBELS INSIDE COLONEL GADDAFI'S COMPOUND

The Libyan leader's compound is "totally in the hands of the revolutionaries," Libyan UN envoy Ibrahim Dabbashi, who supports the rebel movement, said.
But there has been no word on the fate of Col Gaddafi who had vowed to fight "to the end".

TV footage showed rebel fighters streaming through the sprawling Bab al Aziziya compound, firing in the air in celebration after hours of heavy clashes.
After hundreds of jubilant rebels poured into the complex, some smashed a statue of Col Gaddafi and others ran through dozens of buildings, unchallenged, seizing weapons and vehicles.
The Pentagon said the rebels appeared to be in control of most of Tripoli but warned the situation was "still very fluid" and Gaddafi forces "remained dangerous".
In the major offensive, opposition fighters used anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers to attack the complex's three outer walls.

Jubilant rebels bring down a statue of the leader inside the compound
Sky News special correspondent Alex Crawford, who is inside the compound, said: "The place is filled with opposition fighters and soldiers... it has been well and truly taken over by opposition fighters."
One ecstatic fighter told Crawford: "It is unbelievable, to all of the people that sacrificed themselves - for this moment we are in front of his compound."
He added: "Gaddafi, you are a coward - we are looking for you, where are you, come on!"

Earlier, at least two people were killed and several others hurt, including a toddler, as Gaddafi troops fired rockets from his compound.
Crawford said "the attacks from the Gaddafi forces appear to be fairly indiscriminate".
She said: "They are using rockets from inside the compound to shell the civilian population.
"We went to one area where a rocket had landed and two men died in a house. The whole family was injured including a little girl aged about three."

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