LBCI

Negotiations go on at besieged pro-Gaddafi town

World News

04-09-2011 | 13:27

Share

Share

Negotiations go on at besieged pro-Gaddafi town

13^min

Tribal elders from the besieged town of Bani Walid, a bastion of support for Muammar Gaddafi, came out negotiate on Sunday with fighters for Libya's interim government who have said they are ready to attack.

Earlier on Sunday a National Transitional Council (NTC) negotiator told a Reuters correspondent at the scene that talks had broken down and that its forces were about to take the town.

But, several hours later, elders from the town arrived at a frontline checkpoint, some 60 km (40 miles) north of Bani Walid. Sitting in the shade of a building, the men, dressed in flowing white robes, and NTC negotiators in military fatigues and with rifles slung over their shoulders huddled in conversation.

"We do not want to solve this militarily," NTC negotiator Abusif Ghnyah told Reuters at the frontline. "We don't want to fire even a single shot. We don't want blood."

There has been speculation from NTC officials that members of the Gaddafi family, even the former Libyan leader himself, may be hiding in the town. NTC commanders at the checkpoint said they suspected Gaddafi's most politically-prominent son, Saif al-Islam, may have fled the town on Saturday and headed deeper into the southern desert.

Ghnyah said that about 20 pro-Gaddafi fighters still controlled the centre of Bani Walid, though other NTC officials estimated there may be as many as 100 fighters waiting in the town.

Bani Walid, along with Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte and Sabha, deep in the Sahara desert, are three of the last main areas not under NTC control, though its forces are massed nearby.
Independent accounts from inside the towns have not been available as communications appear to be largely cut off.

Subscribe to our VOD

SUBSCRIBE

Our visitors readings

Lebanon enables biometric passport fingerprinting outside the country for the first time

News Bulletin Reports

2026-06-28

Lebanon enables biometric passport fingerprinting outside the country for the first time

Political clash: A dispute over one speech reveals a deeper power struggle in Lebanon

News Bulletin Reports

13:00

Political clash: A dispute over one speech reveals a deeper power struggle in Lebanon

Israeli airstrike hits Ghobeiry in Beirut’s southern suburbs following evacuation warning

2026-04-05

Israeli airstrike hits Ghobeiry in Beirut’s southern suburbs following evacuation warning

France says US action against Greenland could endanger EU trade, FT reports

2026-01-16

France says US action against Greenland could endanger EU trade, FT reports

Videos

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

2026-08-06

Lebanon-Israel talks: delegations arrive at US Embassy in Rome — Video

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

2026-07-24

Residents begin returning to Zawtar el-Gharbiyeh, southern Lebanon: Video

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

2026-07-20

Slotkin to LBCI: Lebanese army needs resources to confront Hezbollah, $36 million request submitted for special forces

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

2026-06-26

Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington: trilateral framework agreement first step toward restoring sovereignty

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

2026-06-26

Rubio on Lebanon-Israel framework agreement: 'beginning of the beginning,' more work needed

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

2026-06-26

Lebanon, Israel sign trilateral framework agreement after Washington talks attended by Rubio: Video

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

2026-06-20

Israeli strikes renew on Choukine, Maifadoun, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in southern Lebanon: Video

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

2026-06-19

Massive Israeli strikes hit South Lebanon under ceasefire conditions

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

2026-06-16

Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon campaign, says war has gone on ‘too long’ and floats Syria role in conflict

Most read

24 hours

7 days

Month

Ali Taher becomes focal point as Israel weighs wider operation in southern Lebanon

1

Ali Taher becomes focal point as Israel weighs wider operation in southern Lebanon

Political clash: A dispute over one speech reveals a deeper power struggle in Lebanon

2

Political clash: A dispute over one speech reveals a deeper power struggle in Lebanon

PM Salam: Israel’s actions in southern Lebanon violate international law

3

PM Salam: Israel’s actions in southern Lebanon violate international law

Lebanon's defense minister apologizes to martyrs' families, vows to defend army's voice

4

Lebanon's defense minister apologizes to martyrs' families, vows to defend army's voice

Solar eclipse plunges large swathe of Spain into total darkness

5

Solar eclipse plunges large swathe of Spain into total darkness

Lebanon presidency denies media reports on Aoun-Trump meeting

6

Lebanon presidency denies media reports on Aoun-Trump meeting

Lebanon has not agreed to shortlist of countries that could verify Hezbollah's disarmament: Reuters

7

Lebanon has not agreed to shortlist of countries that could verify Hezbollah's disarmament: Reuters

Dispute between Lebanon’s prime minister and defense minister under discussion, sources say

8

Dispute between Lebanon’s prime minister and defense minister under discussion, sources say

Download now the LBCI mobile app

To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world

Google Play

App Store

Download now the LBCI mobile app

We use
cookies

We use cookies to make
your experience on this
website better.

Accept

Learn More