Clashes as Libya rebels hunt Kadhafi

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NEAR ZLITEN: Libyan rebels battled loyalists in sporadic clashes Wednesday on the road between the towns of Zliten and Bani Walid, where the insurgents believe Moamer Kadhafi could be hiding.

Two mortars fired by pro-Kadhafi forces targeted a checkpoint near Dafniyah, 15 kilometres (nine miles) west of Zliten, causing no casualties, rebel sources said.

Sporadic explosions and heavy weapons were heard near Zliten, an AFP correspondent said.

"The coastal road (leading to Tripoli) is secure. There are still Kadhafi forces on the desert road" from Zliten south to Bani Walid, said Omar Swihli, a rebel commander. "Inshallah (God willing), we will eliminate them."

A NATO spokesman said that NATO air strikes were now focused along the corridor between Bani Walid and Sirte, Kadhafi's hometown and one of his last bastions of support.

Bani Walid residents have informed rebels that pro-Kadhafi forces in the area still possess surface-to-surface Scud missiles, said Swihli.

Kadhafi loyalists have fired several Scuds from Sirte in past weeks, especially at rebel-held Misrata but without hitting the port city, 210 kilometres east of Tripoli.

NATO has destroyed some of the missiles in flight, according to rebel officials, causing huge blasts over Misrata, while the rest have crashed into the Mediterranean.

On August 14, a Scud targeted Brega, another port city, crashing into the desert without causing harm, according to NATO.

Bani Walid remains in loyalist hands. Located in the district of Misrata, it is a stronghold of the million-strong Warfalla tribe, among the most powerful in Libya.

The rebels control Zliten city, which has about 100,000 inhabitants, but pro-Kadhafi snipers and soldiers armed with mortars in the southern suburbs have been hampering access to the road to Bani Walid.

"We are cleaning the area," said Swihli.

The rebels say Kadhafi is hiding in Bani Walid, southeast of Tripoli, or in the vicinity of the capital.

A senior rebel, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two of Kadhafi's sons, Seif al-Islam and Saadi, were holed up in the town of Bani Walid but did not mention the strongman himself.

Talks are under way with civic and tribal leaders in a number of towns, including Sirte, in an effort to avoid bloodshed, but more fighting could be imminent as rebel fighters have massed to the east and west of the town.

The rebels have issued an ultimatum, giving Kadhafi forces until Saturday to evacuate Sirte. The rebels have placed a $1.7 million ransom on the head of Kadhafi, who has repeatedly refused to surrender. (AFP)