The Libyan rebels continued their push into Tripoli Sunday night, as sporadic gunfire and explosions rocked the capital. The rebels are now positioned within 3km of the city center, according to the Associated Press, and the regime of Muammar Qadhafi, strongman of 42 years, is showing trappings of unprecedented unraveling.
Transitional National Council spokesman Waheed Burshan confirmed the rebel capture of Qadhafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, Sunday evening. Mohamed Qadhafi, an elder son of the Libyan president, reportedly turned himself into rebel fighters. Al-Arabiya television is also reporting Qadhafi’s presidential guard has defected.
Qadhafi spoke live on state television at 12:10 a.m. Monday morning in his third radio broadcast in as many hours. He remained defiant and urged loyalist supporters across the country to take up arms against the NATO-backed rebels.
Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim, however, relayed a more conciliatory tone to reporters in Tripoli. Qadhafi is immediately ready to negotiate with rebel leaders, Ibrahim said, adding that the rebel assault on Tripoli has so far claimed 1300 lives. He called on NATO to cease its campaign or face responsibility for the massacre of Qadhafi supporters in the wake of a rebel victory.
The Libyan rebels have launched a nearly 36-hour uprising on the capital. The rise of rebel “sleeping cells” in Tripoli is feeding off momentous victories on towns outside Tripoli, including Zawiyah and Garyan. Several days ago, the Libyan rebels managed to claim control of Zawiyah, effectively cutting off Tripoli’s supply route from Tunisia.
The recent rebel push has precipitated a shift in momentum in Libya, after months of relative stalemate and slow rebel gains. Some Libyan activists are saying Qadhafi has fled Tripoli. Those reports cannot be confirmed.
Reports of two South African planes on the tarmac in Tripoli's airport, potentially poised to transport the embattled president, also cannot be confirmed. The French and UK governments are urging Qadhafi to step down immediately. Libyan rebels, Libyan activists and NATO spokespeople are saying Qadhafi’s fall is imminent.
