Welcome to our live rolling coverage of the continuing events in Libya as the battle for Tripoli enters its third day. Heavy fighting still continues across the country after rebel forces seized control of Col Muammar Gadhafi's compound in the capital. The whereabouts of the embattled colonel remain unknown. Here we will bring you the latest developments as they happen.

Special: Libya conflict

Live report on Tuesday

On Monday

9:57 am

A number of unconfirmed reports are circulating that the water supply in Tripoli has been poisoned. The BBC’s Rana Jawad says a local imam announced that the water supply had been poisoned and people had been taken to hospital, and he called on people to switch off their water supply. Libya Al Hurra TV also tweets: Water supply is being tested after two people were hospitalized for illness. Checkpoints instructing people not to drink the water.

9:34 am

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the dramatic unfolding events in Libya. Here’s a summary of the latest developments.

 •Col Gadhafi vows death or victory in the fight against "aggression" after rebel forces seized control of his headquarters. In his first interview since the battle in Tripoli started, Gadhafi says his troops' withdrawal from the Bab al Aziziya compound was a tactic and claims it was leveled by 64 NATO airstrikes.

• Heavy fighting continues across the capital and some parts of the country. Pro-Gadhafi forces are attacking the town of Ajelat, west of Tripoli, with missiles and tanks. Rebels in Misrata say Scud missiles have been fired from Sirte, the hometown of Col Gadhafi and an area still under government control.

• Reports claim four hundred people have been killed and 2,000 wounded in three days of fighting between rebels and Gadhafi forces.

• Doctors in Tripoli say hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of people injured in the recent fighting. Medical supplies and staff are urgently needed.

 

8:04 am

A US congressman said on Tuesday that NATO must be held accountable for civilian deaths in Libya, accusing the organization of "illegally" pursuing regime change and "recklessly" bombing the civilians.

 

7:47 am

Libyan rebels said on Wednesday more than 400 people were killed and at least 2,000 were injured in the fight to wrench control of the Libyan capital Tripoli from Muammar Gadhafi, Al Arabiya Television said.

 

7:42 am

Tunisia shut the main border crossing with Libya late on Tuesday amid media reports Muammar Gadhafi's forces were shelling rebel positions in the nearby Libyan town of Zuara, a witness told Reuters.

7:24 am

Embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi said early Wednesday that withdrawal from the Bab al-Aziziya compound in the capital Tripoli was a tactical move, local al-Orouba TV reported.

5:20 am

The pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV quoted Libyan rebel military spokesman Col. Ahmed Bani as saying on Tuesday the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) is to move its headquarters from Benghazi to the capital of Tripoli within two days.

4:40 am

Members of the Libyan rebel National Transitional Council are expected to hold a summit with representatives from the United States, France, Italy, Britain, Turkey and Qatar in the Qatari capital of Doha on Wednesday to discuss the reconstruction of war-torn Libya, Chairman of the National Transitional Council's Executive Bureau Mahmoud Jibril said Tuesday.

3:20 am

The Iraqi government and many walks of the social life voiced their support for Libyan rebels on Tuesday, as the opposition forces have claimed the control of the capital city Tripoli.

2:35 am

A UN spokesperson on Tuesday said the urgent meeting on Libya, which will take place on Friday with the heads of regional and international organizations, will "develop ways in which the international community can work together on the post-conflict phase."

1:50 am

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi would meet Libyan rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril Thursday in Milan, Berlusconi's office said Tuesday.

1:20 am

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed to continue military support to Libyan rebels as long as the Gadhafi regime and his troops refuse to surrender, the Elysee Palace said Tuesday in a statement.

 • See Tuesday's report on Libya as it happened

 • Monday's report on Libya war