Libyan rebels claim seizing Sirte

Shamsi Abdul Molah, spokesman for the opposition’s National Council, said opposition forces had moved into the city at around 11.30pm. “It’s confirmed: Sirte has fallen into pro-democracy hands,” he said.

“They found it an unarmed city. They had no problem getting in there, they did not encounter resistance,” an Al Jazeera correspondent said. A number of military vehicles were seen leaving Sirte yesterday, heading towards Tripoli.

Al Jazeera reports that the claim of the opposition taking Sirte, which could not be independently verified, came as their forces, bolstered by coalition air strikes, pushed westwards and seized control of Bin Jawad, Ras Lanuf, Uqayla, Brega and Ajdabiya.

News media this morning reported hearing at least nine powerful explosions coming from Sirte, just hours after Nato finally took full command of military operations in Libya from the US-led coalition on Sunday, enabling the alliance to strike at Col Gaddafi's forces if they threaten civilians.

Coalition air strikes against targets in Tripoli also resumed yesterday night with explosions heard in the capital.