Gaddafi taking refuge near hometown Sirte?

"We have found out that Gaddafi is now several kilometres southwards of Sirte. He is constantly moving," Anis Sharif said.

He also said Gaddafi was probably looking for a corridor to escape to Sabha, one of the few Libyan cities controlled by forces loyal to him.

"Death, suicide or a trial for Gaddafi - is a matter of time. And he's got little time left," Sharif said.

Chairman of the rebel council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, had earlier given a one-week ultimatum to Gaddafi loyalists to leave the cities of Sirte, Sabha and Bani Walid. The ultimatum expires Sep 10.