Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said today that he will stay in Tripoli until the end and that he will win, calling on his supporters from all over Libya to help liberate the capital from the rebels. In an audio message broadcast by state television, at a time when Western media report on the progress of the rebels in the area of Tripoli, Gaddafi emphasized that he will not hand over power and that he will win. The British media reported earlier today, citing intelligence sources, that Gaddafi has left Libya and is on his way to Venezuela. In the meantime, the rebels have said that there is no confirmation of this, but that Tripoli will fall in a few hours. The Libyan leader said that he is "afraid that Tripoli will burn". He said that he will supply his supporters with additional weapons in the fight with the rebels. , who last night, for the first time after more than six months of conflict with regime forces, began the operation to capture the capital.
Tripoli is well protected
Street fighting broke out in Tripoli today between rebels and forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the first since the anti-government uprising began six months ago.
The Libyan government warned today that attempts to seize the capital will lead to bloodshed, agencies report.
"Thousands of soldiers are ready to defend Tripoli, including many volunteers. Tripoli is well protected," said Libyan government spokesman Musa Ibrahim at today's press conference in Tripoli, which was broadcast live by foreign television.
The leader of the opposition National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, said that more and more rebel fighters are arriving in Tripoli and announced that "Gaddafi's troops will be crushed" as early as tonight, Bloomberg reports.
The rebels claim that they have captured the eastern suburb of Tripoli, Tajoura, and fighting is also taking place in the shopping district of Souk Al Juma, reports Al Jazeera.
The advance of the rebels towards Tripoli followed several weeks of unchanged balance of power.
Gaddafi, who came to power in Libya in a coup in 1969, has urged his supporters to continue fighting the rebels and to resist NATO airstrikes that began in March.
In an audio message broadcast this morning, Gaddafi said that Western collaborators are moving from one city to another and that they claim to be in control, "but they are not in control, they are running away like rats."
"People kiss my image, I am their leader, I am their father," Gaddafi said in this message broadcast by Libyan television and reported by Al Jazeera.
Gaddafi's son Saif Al Islam Gaddafi said, also in a recorded speech, that surrender or raising the white flag was ruled out, but he also told the rebels that if they want peace, they are ready.
A State Department spokeswoman said the US had seen media reports that Gaddafi and his two sons had fled the country, but added that they had no confirmation. She echoed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's position that it was time for Gaddafi to go.
Rebels captured a forest 24 kilometers west of Tripoli this morning after heavy fighting with government forces, one of the rebels said.
Fighting is underway in the Libyan capital today to isolate Gaddafi, the Transitional National Council, a political body of the rebels based in the eastern city of Benghazi, reported, and the rebels are also approaching the capital from the west.
The operation to attack Tripoli began last night and is taking place in cooperation with the Transitional National Council and rebel fighters in and around Tripoli, said Ahmed Djibril, spokesman for the Council, adding that NATO is also involved.
One of the rebel military leaders said today that the Libyan capital, Gaddafi's stronghold, will fall by tomorrow.
"We will enter Tripoli in a few hours. We hope that by tomorrow it will fall into our hands," said Abdelhakim Belhadj.
NATO planes bomb Gaddafi's residential complex
NATO planes are bombing Muammar Gaddafi's residential complex and the airport, al-Jazeera satellite television reported. Today, Libyan rebels entered Tripoli from the sea as part of an operation launched from their western enclave of Misrata, rebel spokesman Abdullah Melitan told Agence France-Presse. from Misrata she reached Tripoli and joined the rebels in the capital. Now they are fighting side by side," said Melitan. A member of the Transitional National Council, Fati Baya, said that Tunisia's recognition of this council is a clear message to Gaddafi that his end is near.
Bonus video:
