Revolutionary forces made a strong push on one of the three significant remaining bastions of loyalist supporters, entering the outskirts of Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte on the Mediterranean coast.
The fugitive dicator’s supporters put up fierce resistance, as they have in other cities holding out against Libya’s new rulers, firing rockets at the attacking forces.
Cameron, who spoke in the capital alongside Sarkozy, delivered a simple message to Gadhafi and his backers: “It is over. Give up.”
The two were the first world leaders to travel to Tripoli since revolutionary forces, backed by Nato airstrikes, swept into the capital on Aug 21 and forced Gadhafi into hiding. The visit aimed to give a significant boost to the National Transitional Council, the body of former rebels that is widely recognized as the new leadership but faces a major struggle in establishing its authority.
At a press conference alongside NTC chief Mustafa Abdul-Jalil and the NTC’s prime minister Mahmoud Jibril, Cameron and Sarkozy both expressed their backing for the council. Cameron said he would push for the release to the NTC of billions of dollars in Libyan assets that had been frozen to punish Gadhafi’s regime.
Published 15 September 2011, 19:05 IST