Fighting continues in Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte with Libyan NTC armed forces 1310112.

The Libyan coastal city of Sirte was on the brink of falling to government forces as fighters loyal to the former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi were trapped in a tightening pocket 500 metres wide and twice as long.

One of the sons of ousted Libyan leader Moamer Gadhafi has been arrested in his hometown of Sirte, the new leadership said as its forces mopped up the last isolated pockets of resistance.

"Mutassim Qadhafi was captured at Sirte and was transferred to Benghazi" in the country's east, National Transitional Council (NTC) advisor Abdelkarim Bizama told AFP.

By afternoon, it appeared that barely 5% of the city remained under the control of those fighting for Gaddafi, who is still on the run after ruling Libya for 42 years. As government forces completed the clearing of the city's east, rumours began to circulate that it had finally capitulated. "Sirte is free!" said one man heading to join the fighting in the city centre.