Libya forces derive on centre of Gaddafi hometown

Libyas new regime forces were battling block by block towards the centre of Sirte on Monday, eyeing the symbolic prize of finally capturing Moammar Gaddafis hometown after a month-long siege.On the diplomatic front, Libyas ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) said it recognises the Syrian National Council grouping opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, becoming the first government, albeit an interim one, to do so.But Gaddafi diehards were putting up fierce resistance and in their other remaining bastion, Bani Walid, they mounted a fightback, killing 18 NTC fighters and injuring 300.The interim ruling NTC has been waiting for Sirtes full capture to declare the liberation of the whole of Libya, clearing the way to draw up a timetable for elections.A column of NTC troops thrust towards central Sirte from positions east along the Mediterranean coast, coming under heavy rocket and small arms fire as they inched forward house by house.They advanced about a kilometre (1,000 yards) into the city centre from the south and east by the afternoon, backed by heavy shelling and tanks.The revolutionaries are less than one kilometre from the central square. We control about 90 percent of Sirte, said Makhluf el-Ferjani of the Sirte military council.Little more than sniper fire was coming back at them, but at least 18 NTC fighters were killed and dozens more were wounded on Monday.Meanwhile, an official NTC said that he believes Moammar Gaddafi is hiding in the southwestern desert near the borders with Niger and Algeria, but denied allegations that the Tuareg minority ethnic group is protecting the fugitive leader.