Libyan National Transitional Council fighters control 60 per cent of Bani Walid 1710112.

As the fighting to take full control of former leader Muammar Al Qathafi's hometown of Sirte continued throughout Sunday, on another important front, Libya's National Transitional Council fighters reported entering Bani Walid. Monday morning they are claiming to have control over 60 per cent of the city 140 kilometres from Tripoli.

Despite meeting fierce resistance from the fugitive leader's loyalists in this desert city, the only other remaining bastion loyal to the former Libyan leader, they managed to make good progress, the result of an assault with heavy weapons from two sides, the north and the south.

As in Sirte, the loyalists offered stiff resistance, but NTC leaders, reported saying it was time “to tear down the symbol of tyranny”, are confident that taking Bani Walid will not be as hard as taking Sirte, that is close to being captured completely.

The NTC commanders are also planning to harshen their offensive on Bani Walid once Sirte is captured. That way the fighters currently taking part in the siege of Sirte would join up with those fighting to take Bani Walid in order to speed up the rounding of the campaign. After that, the liberation of country would be complete.