World
        

Africa

NTC says no idea of Gaddafi's whereabouts

Updated: 2011-09-20 09:23

(Xinhua)

Twitter Facebook Myspace Yahoo! Linkedin Mixx

NTC says no idea of Gaddafi's whereabouts

Anti-Gaddafi fighters travel on a vehicle at a strategic checkpoint after retreating from the north of the besieged city of Bani Walid September 19, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

TRIPOLI - The Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) said Monday it has still no solid information about the whereabouts of former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Amid reports that the NTC was kept out of the southeastern town of Bani Walid by the strong resistance of the remnant Gaddafi forces, military spokesman Ahmed Bani told a press conference here that no matter where Gaddafi is, he is "part of the past now."

Meanwhile, the spokesman said Gaddafi's soldiers were "shooting " and "stealing" in Bani Walid.

Bani failed to confirm whether or not Gaddafi was in Bani Walid, where loyalists of Gaddafi had ambushed the NTC troops on Saturday and forced them into a retreat after killing at least six NTC soldiers and wounding 20 others. He was neither able to give the exact number of the resisting Gaddafi fighters currently there.

On the prolonged clashes in Bani Walid, the NTC spokesman said there were "tactics and procedures."

He said the NTC's offensive bid was upset by the geographical difficulties there. "Bani Walid is between mountains," he stressed, adding that the Gaddafi forces there still possesses snipers and long-range missiles.

But what is certain is that the town has been "100 percent surrounded" by the NTC fighters, Bani said.

The NTC promises that it will not give up Bani Walid, and " would like to send the message to the people there that we (the NTC fighters) are coming," Bani added.

 

 

E-paper

The snuff of dreams

Chinese collectors have discovered the value of beautiful bottles

Perils in relying on building boom
Fast forward to digital age
Bonds that tie China. UK

European Edition

Specials

Let them eat cake

Cambridge University graduate develops thriving business selling cupcakes

A case is laid to rest

In 1937, a young woman'S body was found in beijing. paul french went searching for her killer

Banking on change

Leading economist says china must transform its growth model soon

Sowing the seeds of doubt
Lifting the veil
Exclusive attraction