security forces appeared to be digging in to defend the centre of Tripoli.

security forces appeared to be digging in to defend the centre of Tripoli.

“The security presence now is all around the city which they have cordoned off to prevent any forces coming from outside,” said Samir, a Tripoli resident. “They have stationed tanks and anti-aircraft guns on roads leading into the city. The other security cordon is around Bab al-Aziziah [Gaddafi residence] there of course he has a whole arsenal of weapons.

“The streets are quite and there are few people around. There were some 150 supporters of Gaddafi in Green Square, mostly kids,” he said.

Forces loyal to the embattled leader were also attempting regain territory lost to rebels in other parts of the country. There were battles at an airbase outside Misrata on Saturday morning between pro-Gaddafi forces and the local population supported by units of the army.

Regime forces have been attempting since Friday to capture Misrata, the third city in Libya which lies on the coast 200 kilometres east of Tripoli.

The civilian airport outside the city which lies on the coast 200 kilometres east of Tripoli was attacked and burnt down by regime forces on Friday, according to Ibrahim an eye witness who spoke to the Financial Times.

He said the grounds of the airport were strewn with shells. Gharian an area of Misrata was shelled yesterday on Friday night and the number of casualties is unknown, he said.

“We are surrounded by regime forces from all directions,” he said. “We don’t know how many martyrs have fallen. They have also abducted several people.”

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