In western Libya fierce fighting has continued in Mistrata, Ziltan, Gharain, Zawiya and the area to the west of Zawiya. Hospitals and international aid agencies report that they are being overwhelmed by the number of casualties.
In Tripoli itself Libyan government forces still control the Qaddafi compound. The rebels breached the compounds outer walls yesterday (24/8/11) afternoon but have been unable to breach the inner walls. When and if that happens the rebels will still have to fight their way into the buildings in the compound and through the network of bunkers and tunnels underneath it. There are also reports of heaving fighting around the Rixos hotel as the rebels try and fight their way into the quarter of the city still controlled by the Libyan government.
Although his exact whereabouts are still unknown overnight (24/8/11 - 25/8/11) Muammer Qaddafi gave a speech on Libyan state radio to announce that he is no longer in Tripoli after withdrawing for tactical reasons. This is actually Muammer Qaddafi being modest because what he's done is actually a tactical master stroke that forces NATO to lift it's siege of the city that has been making life seriously unpleasant for the cities civilians.
With even Muammer Qaddafi confirming that he is no longer in Tripoli the British, French and New Zealand special forces who led the assault on Tripoli have led Libyan rebel units on another assault, this time of the southern city of Sabha. Although this is officially a mission to capture Muammer Qaddafi I think that the British military planners know full well that he is not in Sabha. However they're still leading the rebels on a pointless mission in order to keep them busy and the adrenaline pumping because if the rebels get the time to stop and think they'll realise that their grand plan has failed and they are now closer to defeat then victory.
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