Army set to attack Gaddafi stronghold
Date October 21, 2012
Targeting stronghold ... the Libyan army and militia. Photo: Reuters
AS LIBYA marked one year yesterday since the capture and death of the dictator Muammar Gaddafi, a battle was brewing in and near the city of Bani Walid, where the Libyan army and militia from the city of Misrata were preparing to attack one of the last strongholds of Gaddafi supporters.
A 48-hour cease-fire went into effect on Friday to allow civilians to leave the city, about 160 kilometres south-east of Tripoli, the capital, after an assault on Thursday by the government and the militia forced hundreds to flee, and left at least 20 dead and dozens more wounded.
Thursday's assault occurred after Bani Walid leaders failed to hand over men wanted by the Libyan government for the abduction, torture and death of Omran Shaaban, a militia member from Misrata who helped to capture Gaddafi from a drainpipe. Shaaban died in a Paris hospital last month shortly after his release from several months in captivity.
Bani Walid was the last major city to hold out after other Gaddafi enclaves had fallen, including Sirte, Gaddafi's home town, where he died on October 20, 2011.
