NEGOTIATIONS aimed at peacefully ending a standoff outside one of Muammar Gaddafi's remaining strongholds southeast of Tripoli have failed and Libyan rebels are waiting for the green light to launch a final assault. Abdullah Kanshil, who was one of the rebel negotiators, said at a rebel checkpoint about 70 kilometres north of Bani Walid, talks had broken down overnight after Gaddafi's chief spokesman Moussa Ibrahim insisted the rebels disarm before entering the town. The rebels said hardcore loyalists are a small minority inside Bani Walid, but are heavily armed and stoking fear to keep other residents from surrendering. "We feel sorry for the people of Bani Walid," Mr Kanshil said, himself a Bani Walid native. "We hope for the best for our city." He said Moussa Ibrahim was inside the city with other regime loyalists and heavily armed supporters.
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