Revolutionary forces enter Sirte outskirts

The National Transitional Council (NTC) forces reached the outskirts of Sirte on Thursday in a surprise advance from Misrata, nearly 250 kilometers to the North West.  

Heavy fighting took place in the city which is Moammar Gaddafi's hometown and one of the ousted Libyan leader's last remaining strongholds.  

According to a spokesman for Libya's new leaders, several thousand revolutionary fighters launched an offensive on Sirte, backed by tanks and other vehicles.  

Military officials said four fighters were killed and seven wounded in the offensive, with some of the injured taken by ambulance to Misrata for treatment.  

Revolutionary tanks traveled in a convoy towards Sirte on Thursday and were met by rocket fire from Gaddafi loyalists as far as 50 kilometers outside the city.  

Military officials said that when revolutionary forces reached Sirte, they clashed with snipers holed up in a high-rise office tower, as well as with members of an elite unit of Gaddafi troops.