Libyan rebels enter Tripoli

Explosions and gunfire rocked Tripoli yesterday as a months-long uprising pushed through the gates of the Libyan capital, with rebels insisting they are close to toppling Muammar Gaddafi.

A spokesman for the Gaddafi regime said Tripoli is defended by "thousands" of troops, as rebels announced the launch of "Operation Mermaid" which, they said, would end only once the veteran strongman surrendered or departed.

With rebels claiming to have seized three key towns and saying they are advancing on Tripoli from the west, government spokesman Mussa Ibrahim admitted a small band of insurgents had penetrated the capital.

There had been "small clashes" that lasted 30 minutes and the "situation is under control," Ibrahim said on state television.

Intermittent gunfire crackled in Tripoli shortly after four strong blasts were heard around 4am as Nato warplanes flew overhead, an AFP journalist said. This was followed by more gunfire and blasts.

The targets were not immediately identifiable but witnesses reported clashes in several districts between insurgents and Gaddafi supporters, namely in the eastern neighbourhoods of Soug Jomaa, Arada and Tajura.

Witnesses also said residents of Tajura, Soug Jomaa and Fashlum east of Tripoli took to the streets late on Saturday, setting tyres ablaze while calls urging the population to rise were made from the loudspeakers of mosques.

Ibrahim later told reporters "thousands" of professional and volunteer soldiers were defending the capital against rebels, whom he accused of carrying out "34 executions" and raping women in the western coastal town of Sorman.

Gaddafi himself earlier yesterday pushed out a message urging supporters to "march by the millions" to liberate cities held by "traitors and rats". "These scum enter mosques to cry 'God is great'. They are dirty. They are defiling the mosques," the embattled Gaddafi said in an audio message carried on state television.

"We have to put an end to this masquerade. You must march by the millions to free the destroyed towns" controlled by rebels "traitors" and "rats", he said.

Rebel spokesman Ahmed Jibril said "Operation Mermaid" is a joint effort between the Benghazi-based rebel National Transitional Council, insurgents fighting in and around Tripoli and Nato forces.

"The operation is also in co-ordination with Nato," Jibril said.

Rebel fighters said they were battling Gaddafi loyalists in the Gadayem forest about 24km west of Tripoli which they hoped to reach later yesterday.

In his eastern stronghold of Benghazi, rebel chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil claimed that victory was within reach, six months after the insurgency was launched.

"All evidence [shows] that the end is very near, with God's grace."