海角大神

Fighter Mohammed Omran got a taste of the strong defenses of Bani Walid when his squad of seven probed one of the last loyalist strongholds of Muammar Qaddafi.

Pro-Qaddafi snipers were hiding inside houses at dusk on Friday night. Once they began shooting, the volunteer irregulars were hit with a constant wall of fire: They were pinned down by 14.5mm anti-aircraft guns; then by a barrage of small missiles; then the .50 caliber heavy machine gun, all of them used and reloaded in rapid succession, again and again.

The stalled fight for Bani Walid, which on Sunday awaited only reinforcements and orders from Libya鈥檚 new authorities to launch a new offensive, is a critical step 鈥� along with the surrender of two other important loyalist strongholds 鈥� before Libya is officially declared 鈥渓iberated.鈥� Then the clock is to start ticking on a timeline to write a new constitution and hold elections.

鈥淚 cannot count so many blasts,鈥� recalled Mr. Omran, a four-month veteran of Libya鈥檚 revolutionary forces, who once sold women鈥檚 clothing in Tripoli. His unit was pinned down until dark; a mortar shell struck a rock nearby, and a shard of stone injured his right heel.

But before Omran鈥檚 squad made its getaway, under darkness and despite continued shooting, he says he and his comrades had surrounded and captured five pro-Qaddafi soldiers. They told them to drop their weapons, but 鈥渇rom the beginning they did not stop,鈥� says Omran. 鈥淥nly when they ran out of bullets did they stop shooting.鈥�

One Qaddafi soldier threw a grenade and tried to run away. They shot him dead immediately.

鈥淭hey were more than scared,鈥� says Omran of the prisoners. One claimed to be a shepherd; another said he was 鈥渨ith鈥� the rebels from the start. 鈥淭hey expected to be killed. One begged: 鈥楧on鈥檛 cut me, just shoot me.鈥� 鈥�

Instead, the anti-Qaddafi fighters gave them water and apples, and got them safely to the rear.

Jalil arrives in Tripoli

As the military build-up continues around loyalist cities like Bani Walid, a bastion of Qaddafi鈥檚 Warfallah tribe, the chairman of the National Transitional Council (NTC), Mustafa Abdel Jalil, arrived in Tripoli late on Saturday.

Mr. Jalil鈥檚 move from the former rebel headquarters in the eastern city of Benghazi signaled a consolidation of power in Tripoli. Criticism has risen over the apparent reluctance to Libya鈥檚 new leaders 鈥� known as 鈥渞ebels鈥� until August 21 鈥� to come to the capital and unify the disparate elements that forced Qaddafi鈥檚 fall.

Scuffles broke out, a pistol was waved and Jalil was taken to a safe area upon arrival at a Tripoli airport.

鈥淏rotherhood and warmth 鈥� that鈥檚 what we will depend on to build our future,鈥� Jalil said at the airport. 鈥淲e are not at a time of retribution. This is the time of unity and liberation.鈥�

Jalil said all of Libya鈥檚 territory must be controlled by anti-Qaddafi forces before they can declare victory. Some NTC leaders suggest that Qaddafi, too, must be caught or killed before that moment.

鈥淨addafi still has money and gold,鈥� said Jalil. 鈥淭here are fundamental things that would allow him to find men. We must focus on our abilities to liberate Bani Walid, Sabha [in the Sahara, 430 miles south of Tripoli], and [Qaddafi鈥檚 coastal hometown of] Sirte.鈥�

Stubborn strongholds

Despite the victory celebrations that continue in Tripoli, more than three weeks after anti-Qaddafi forces took it over, those loyalist towns are proving more formidable targets.

Bani Walid was surrounded on Sunday, with an offensive expected anytime, though reports suggested open divisions between tribes and different frontlines are complicating the decision to advance. Some 500 anti-Qaddafi fighters have moved toward Sabha in the last two days; and fighting has been taking place on the flanks of Sirte.

鈥淲e would like to reassure you about the ethics of the revolutionaries,鈥� said Daw Salaheen, the commander for Bani Walid鈥檚 northern front, speaking Saturday at a frontline position two miles north of the town. His message for Bani Walid residents was that it was 鈥渘ot too late to lay down your weapons.鈥� Holdouts were Qaddafi loyalists and mercenaries, he said, while forces gathered at the lip of a nearby hill.

鈥淲e ask our citizens to be aware of those criminals, and to be away from them, because they will not hesitate to put you at harm,鈥� said Mr. Salaheen. 鈥淎nyone who lays his weapon down and doesn鈥檛 fight the revolutionaries, and doesn鈥檛 harm the civilians, will be safe in our hands and we will protect him.鈥�

Talks founder

The NTC had sought to end the standoff peacefully. But days of talks foundered 鈥� and a week-long deadline extension to surrender passed on Saturday 鈥� as it became increasingly clear that Bani Walid would not give up without a fight.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be difficult, because the dogs of Qaddafi 鈥� those involved in killing people in all Libya 鈥� all of them escaped to Bani Walid,鈥� said fighter Omran, speaking at a school converted to an emergency hospital up the Tripoli road.

Journalists on Saturday were permitted to get to within two miles of the town of 50,000, where electricity still works but telephone lines have been cut by pro-Qaddafi forces, say NTC officials.

Fierce fight for Bani Walid

Anti-Qaddafi forces blasted their guns into the sky and shouted 鈥淕od is great!鈥� But incoming rifle fire and three grad rockets landed nearby prompting looks of panic on the faces of some fighters.

NATO aircraft could then be heard overhead. The sounds of at least five bombs were then heard, raising clouds of smoke in the distance of Bani Walid. NATO said Sunday that it hit a tank, two armed vehicles, and one multiple rocket launcher in the Saturday strikes near Bani Walid. Airstrikes also targeted the areas around Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte, and the towns of Waddan and Sabha in the south.

鈥淭wo conditions [loyalists in Bani Walid] give us: Come to the town without weapons, and we want to talk to NATO,鈥� said Abdullah Kanshil, the top NTC negotiator, speaking at that point of the frontline. He said that for loyalists, the former rebel forces 鈥� which now control Tripoli and most of the country 鈥� remain 鈥渘on-existent.鈥�

To the demands of pro-Qaddafi forces in the town, said Mr. Kanshil, the NTC replied: 鈥淣ATO is not in our hands, and we can鈥檛 go [into Bani Walid] or they will kill us. So we told them we can鈥檛 do that.鈥�

Kanshil said Qaddafi鈥檚 sons Saif and Moatissim, as well as regime spokesman Musa Ibrahim, could still be in the town. Mr. Ibrahim had been broadcasting messages from three locations in Bani Walid: a house, a military barracks, and an office for the electricity company, according to Kanshil.

鈥淭hose guys, really they want Libya to be a hell,鈥� added Kanshil. 鈥淚鈥檓 sure they want to use the others to fight for their cause 鈥� they will not fight. But they instigate people to fight and fight and fight. But I鈥檓 sure when they know, the moment [of defeat], they will leave as they left [Qaddafi鈥檚] Bab al-Aziziya 肠辞尘辫辞耻苍诲.鈥�