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NATO sees Gaddafi loyalists near defeat in Sirte

World News

08-10-2011 | 09:44

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NATO sees Gaddafi loyalists near defeat in Sirte

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Commanders of NATO operations in Libya believe forces loyal to ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi are on the verge of defeat in Sirte, a key milestone for ending alliance military operations, a senior U.S. defense official said.

The commanders' assessment was delivered to U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who was visiting the U.S. Navy base at Naples, Italy, that serves as headquarters for the 6th Fleet. He was briefed on the status of air and sea operations aimed at protecting Libyan civilians from attacks by Gaddafi loyalists, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Commanders told Panetta in closed-door sessions that Gaddafi, whose exact whereabouts are unknown, effectively has no nationwide command and control over militias who support him, the official said.

Gaddafi loyalists in the city of Sirte, the last major concentration of resistance to Libya's new rulers, are likely to be defeated within days or weeks, the official said.

-Reuters

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