(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Fighting between Libya’s rivals resumed in Muammar Gaddafi’s hometown, Sirte, late on Sunday after a ceasefire declared by the new regime had expired.
Earlier as the ceasefire was in force, hundreds of Sirte residents fled the fierce battles in the city. Fleeing residents said hundreds of people had been injured in the fighting in Sirte where the humanitarian situation was dire.
Witnesses said NATO forces have begun air strikes targeting Gaddafi loyalists hiding in the city.
National Transitional Council forces have been trying to take Sirte by force over the past three weeks, surrounding the town from all directions. But Gaddafi loyalists defending the city have vowed that they will continue fighting NTC forces despite the overwhelming odds against them.
AL-SAADI DENIES INTERPOL ACCUATIONS
Meanwhile, Gaddafi’s son, al-Saadi, denied accusations corruption and intimidation when he headed the Libyan Football Federation. He called Interpol's decision to put him on the equivalent of its most-wanted list political.
In an email forwarded Sunday to The Associated Press, Al-Saadi “"regrets the issue of a red notice by Interpol and strenuously denies the charges made against him”.
He called the Interpol notice a "clear political decision to recognize the de jure authority of the National Transitional Council taken without appropriate regard to the current absence of a functioning, effective and fair system of justice in Libya."
The Interpol issued a red notice for al-Saadi last week based on accusations he misappropriated property and engaged in "armed intimidation" when he headed the Libyan Football Federation. He also was a Special Forces commander and is the subject of UN sanctions for commanding military units involved in repression of demonstrations.
Al-Saadi has been under house arrest in Libyan neighbor Niger, where he fled after Tripoli fell to revolutionary forces.
GADDAFI WHEREABOUTS STILL UNKNOWN
On the other hand, the whereabouts of Gaddafi himself were still unknown. He has been absconding ever since NTC forces captured Tripoli in August. The former despot is at present a fugitive in his own country, evading capture by NTC forces.
The U.N.-backed International Criminal Court (ICC) based at The Hague, Netherlands, has issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi, his son Seif al-Islam, and his former intelligence chief Abdullah Sanoussi in connection with alleged atrocities committed by Gaddafi loyalists during the conflict.
/129
Earlier as the ceasefire was in force, hundreds of Sirte residents fled the fierce battles in the city. Fleeing residents said hundreds of people had been injured in the fighting in Sirte where the humanitarian situation was dire.
Witnesses said NATO forces have begun air strikes targeting Gaddafi loyalists hiding in the city.
National Transitional Council forces have been trying to take Sirte by force over the past three weeks, surrounding the town from all directions. But Gaddafi loyalists defending the city have vowed that they will continue fighting NTC forces despite the overwhelming odds against them.
AL-SAADI DENIES INTERPOL ACCUATIONS
Meanwhile, Gaddafi’s son, al-Saadi, denied accusations corruption and intimidation when he headed the Libyan Football Federation. He called Interpol's decision to put him on the equivalent of its most-wanted list political.
In an email forwarded Sunday to The Associated Press, Al-Saadi “"regrets the issue of a red notice by Interpol and strenuously denies the charges made against him”.
He called the Interpol notice a "clear political decision to recognize the de jure authority of the National Transitional Council taken without appropriate regard to the current absence of a functioning, effective and fair system of justice in Libya."
The Interpol issued a red notice for al-Saadi last week based on accusations he misappropriated property and engaged in "armed intimidation" when he headed the Libyan Football Federation. He also was a Special Forces commander and is the subject of UN sanctions for commanding military units involved in repression of demonstrations.
Al-Saadi has been under house arrest in Libyan neighbor Niger, where he fled after Tripoli fell to revolutionary forces.
GADDAFI WHEREABOUTS STILL UNKNOWN
On the other hand, the whereabouts of Gaddafi himself were still unknown. He has been absconding ever since NTC forces captured Tripoli in August. The former despot is at present a fugitive in his own country, evading capture by NTC forces.
The U.N.-backed International Criminal Court (ICC) based at The Hague, Netherlands, has issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi, his son Seif al-Islam, and his former intelligence chief Abdullah Sanoussi in connection with alleged atrocities committed by Gaddafi loyalists during the conflict.
/129