Battle for Libya: Rebel Forces Loot Gadhafi's Armory
Large numbers of rebel fighters are retreating into Libya's western towns and cities to regroup with weapons looted from Moammar Gadhafi's armory while others continue to clash with the Libyan leader's regime as the battle for Tripoli enters its third day.
Rebels broke into Bab al-Azizya, the main military compound in Tripoli, and reportedly filled several pick-up trucks to the brim with munitions and supplies. Rebel soldiers told ABC News that they plan to return to their bases then go back to Tripoli to attack Gadhafi's loyalists one more time in an attempt to seal victory.
The retreat is a shift in the situation in Tripoli on Monday when reports indicated that two of Gadhafi's three sons were captured by rebels and the 40-year reign of his regime was crumbling.
Gadhafi's forces have been pushed into a corner since rebel fighters entered Tripoli on Sunday, with State Department officials estimating that the rebels are in control of 90 percent of Tripoli.
The conflict reportedly entered an extremely bloody phase on Tuesday with violent street fights erupting across Tripoli, while hospitals in all the cities and towns around the capital overflowed with casualties, and reports of extensive deaths flooded in.
Late Monday night an emboldened Seif al Islam Gadhafi -- the son and heir apparent of Moammar Gadhafi whom Libyan rebels claimed to have captured -- re-appeared to a cheering crowd at Tripoli's Rixos Hotel, where he claimed the Libyan regime will be victorious.
"We are going to win because the people are with us. That's why we're going to win," Seif al Islam Gadhafi said after turning up early Tuesday morning amongst regime forces at the hotel where dozens of foreign journalists are staying.
"Look at them, look at them," he said referring to Libyans who have flooded the capital. "In the streets, everywhere.
"We have broken the backbone of the rebels. It was a trap," he told the BBC. "We gave them a hard time, so we are winning."
When asked if his father is safe, Seif al Islam laughed and said, "Of course."
His appearance in a white limousine amid a convoy of armored SUVs on the streets of Tripoli conflicts with the rebels' National Transitional Council claims Sunday that three of Gadhafi's sons had either been captured or surrendered.
The leadership's spokesman Sadeq al-Kabir had no explanation for his sudden re-appearance and could only say, "This could be all lies."
On Monday the NTC's ambassador to the United States Ali Suleiman Aujali told ABC News that Moammar Gadhafi's other son Muhammad Gadhafi had escaped after surrendering to opposition forces.
Muhammad had publicly announced that he was surrendering during a weepy phone call to Al Jazeera in which he said his house was surrounded by gunfire.
Mohammed Abdel-Rahman, another rebel fighter spokesman who was in Tripoli, said that the "danger is still there" as long as Moammar Gadhafi remains at large.
Speaking while on vacation at Martha's Vineyard, Mass on Monday, President Obama said that the situation in Tripoli is "very fluid," while calling on Gadhafi to resign. He also praised the rebels fighting to oust the strongman and gain control of Tripoli.
"Although it's clear that Gadhafi's rule is over, he still has the opportunity to reduce further bloodshed by explicitly relinquishing power to the people of Libya and calling for those forces that continue to fight to lay down their arms for the sake of Libya," Obama said from Martha's Vineyard, Mass., where he's vacationing.
"I want to emphasize that this is not over yet. As the regime collapses, there is still fierce fighting in some areas. We have reports of regime elements threatening to continue fighting," Obama said.
Is This the End of Moammar Gadhafi? Watch Video
Moammar Gadhafi, Libya and the World Watch Video
Moammar Gadhafi: 'Mad Dog of the Middle East' Watch Video
As Obama spoke, the whereabouts of Gadhafi are still unknown. Pentagon officials believe Gadhafi is still in Libya.
"I think that's probably fair to say that we believe he's still in the country," Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said. "On what basis can we say that? Just again, it's a belief. We do not have any information that he has left the country."
Lapan said there's been no indication that there's been any outreach to the United States from the Ghadafi government.
Gadhafi was last heard publicly on Sunday when he spoke in an audio message urging Libyans to protect Tripoli from rebels. ABC News Jeffrey Kofman contributed to this report
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| Libyan rebel fighters prepare to shoot towards pro-Gadhafi forces during fighting in downtown Tripoli, LIbya, Monday, Aug. 22, 2011. |
Rebels broke into Bab al-Azizya, the main military compound in Tripoli, and reportedly filled several pick-up trucks to the brim with munitions and supplies. Rebel soldiers told ABC News that they plan to return to their bases then go back to Tripoli to attack Gadhafi's loyalists one more time in an attempt to seal victory.
The retreat is a shift in the situation in Tripoli on Monday when reports indicated that two of Gadhafi's three sons were captured by rebels and the 40-year reign of his regime was crumbling.
Gadhafi's forces have been pushed into a corner since rebel fighters entered Tripoli on Sunday, with State Department officials estimating that the rebels are in control of 90 percent of Tripoli.
The conflict reportedly entered an extremely bloody phase on Tuesday with violent street fights erupting across Tripoli, while hospitals in all the cities and towns around the capital overflowed with casualties, and reports of extensive deaths flooded in.
Late Monday night an emboldened Seif al Islam Gadhafi -- the son and heir apparent of Moammar Gadhafi whom Libyan rebels claimed to have captured -- re-appeared to a cheering crowd at Tripoli's Rixos Hotel, where he claimed the Libyan regime will be victorious.
"We are going to win because the people are with us. That's why we're going to win," Seif al Islam Gadhafi said after turning up early Tuesday morning amongst regime forces at the hotel where dozens of foreign journalists are staying.
"Look at them, look at them," he said referring to Libyans who have flooded the capital. "In the streets, everywhere.
"We have broken the backbone of the rebels. It was a trap," he told the BBC. "We gave them a hard time, so we are winning."
When asked if his father is safe, Seif al Islam laughed and said, "Of course."
His appearance in a white limousine amid a convoy of armored SUVs on the streets of Tripoli conflicts with the rebels' National Transitional Council claims Sunday that three of Gadhafi's sons had either been captured or surrendered.
The leadership's spokesman Sadeq al-Kabir had no explanation for his sudden re-appearance and could only say, "This could be all lies."
On Monday the NTC's ambassador to the United States Ali Suleiman Aujali told ABC News that Moammar Gadhafi's other son Muhammad Gadhafi had escaped after surrendering to opposition forces.
Muhammad had publicly announced that he was surrendering during a weepy phone call to Al Jazeera in which he said his house was surrounded by gunfire.
Mohammed Abdel-Rahman, another rebel fighter spokesman who was in Tripoli, said that the "danger is still there" as long as Moammar Gadhafi remains at large.
Speaking while on vacation at Martha's Vineyard, Mass on Monday, President Obama said that the situation in Tripoli is "very fluid," while calling on Gadhafi to resign. He also praised the rebels fighting to oust the strongman and gain control of Tripoli.
"Although it's clear that Gadhafi's rule is over, he still has the opportunity to reduce further bloodshed by explicitly relinquishing power to the people of Libya and calling for those forces that continue to fight to lay down their arms for the sake of Libya," Obama said from Martha's Vineyard, Mass., where he's vacationing.
"I want to emphasize that this is not over yet. As the regime collapses, there is still fierce fighting in some areas. We have reports of regime elements threatening to continue fighting," Obama said.
Is This the End of Moammar Gadhafi? Watch Video
Moammar Gadhafi, Libya and the World Watch Video
Moammar Gadhafi: 'Mad Dog of the Middle East' Watch Video
As Obama spoke, the whereabouts of Gadhafi are still unknown. Pentagon officials believe Gadhafi is still in Libya.
"I think that's probably fair to say that we believe he's still in the country," Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said. "On what basis can we say that? Just again, it's a belief. We do not have any information that he has left the country."
Lapan said there's been no indication that there's been any outreach to the United States from the Ghadafi government.
Gadhafi was last heard publicly on Sunday when he spoke in an audio message urging Libyans to protect Tripoli from rebels. ABC News Jeffrey Kofman contributed to this report
