Libyan fighters ‘enter’ Gaddafi stronghold of Bani Walid

The forces of Libya‘s National Transitional Council (NTC) say they forced their way in to the desert town on Sunday evening, and encountered strong resistance from pro-Gaddafi fighters.

Along with Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte, Bani Walid is one of the two remaining towns in Libya resisting the rule of the NTC.

NTC officials said that forces had reached the city centre and raised the new Libyan flag, but this has not been verified.

Bani Walid, which is around 170 kilometres southeast of Tripoli, has been surrounded by NTC fighters for weeks, but they have previously been unable to enter because of fierce resistance from an estimated 1,500 pro-Gaddafi fighters, who have been launching attacks from the steep valleys and hills around the town.

New attacks

After suffering heavy losses last week, NTC forces launched an artillery attack on Sunday and then entered the town from the north and the south, according to AFP news agency.

As well as a military offensive, NTC officials have also been negotiating with community leaders inside Bani Walid, encouraging them to surrender. It is not yet clear what agreement, if any, resulted from the talks.

The battle for the control of Sirte is still ongoing, but fighting came to a lull on Sunday, according to agency reports. The previous day, loyalist fighters mounted a strong counter-attack in Sirte, forcing NTC fighters back with rockets and shelling.

Residents returning to parts of Sirte are accusing Libyan NTC forces of looting and damaging homes, shops and public buildings as revenge for the town’s support of Muammar Gaddafi, the fugitive leader.

A “new era” in UK-Libya relations

The renewed attack on Bani Walid came as Foreign Secretary William Hague met with NTC Chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

Mr Hague officially re-opened the British Embassy, saying said that his visit marked a “watershed” in UK relations with Libya and was a further recognition of the NTC’s progress in stabilising the country.

“The Libyan people’s decisive break with the past means we are now able to open a new era in UK-Libya relations, building on our military, political, diplomatic and humanitarian support to the Libyan people during their revolution,” said Mr Hague.

The foreign secretary pledged medical support for Libyans injured in the conflict, as well as an increased contribution to emergency de-mining activities to allow thousands of people to return to their homes, particularly around Sirte and Bani Walid.

The UK will also return a shipment of Libyan banknotes that has been frozen in the UK.

So far, the UK has allocated £20.6m to support Libya’s stabilisation and pledged up to £20m more to support political and economic reform.