Libyan Forces Fight for Gadhafi's Hometown

New leaders promise interim government in coming week
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Sep 24, 2011 3:02 PM CDT
Updated Sep 24, 2011 4:02 PM CDT
Libyan Forces Fight for Gadhafi's Hometown
Mahmood Jibril, chairman of Libya's Transitional National Council executive board, addresses the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011.    (Mary Altaffer)

With NATO jets roaring overhead, revolutionary forces fought their way into Moammar Gadhafi's hometown today in the first significant push into the stubborn stronghold in about a week. Libya's new leaders also tried to move on the political front, promising to announce in the coming week a new interim government that it hopes will help unite the country. However, disagreements remain about what the Cabinet should look like.

The National Transitional Council led the rebellion that forced Gadhafi into hiding and has taken over the leadership of the oil-rich North African nation even as it continues to fight forces still loyal to the fugitive leader. The NTC-appointed prime minister, Mahmoud Jibril, sought support from leaders at the United Nations today, telling them that "a new Libya is coming to life." Meanwhile explosions rocked Sirte throughout the day as fighters pushing in on four roads came under heavy fire from loyalist snipers and artillery guns. Along the city's main thoroughfare, they faced close-range gunfights with loyalists hiding in apartment buildings and throwing hand grenades at them from windows. (More Moammar Gadhafi stories.)

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