Where is Gaddafi?

The whereabouts of Libyan leader Gaddafi and his sons remain a mystery after rebels took full control of what was believed to be his bunker. In a message broadcast on Syria-based Arrai TV, Gaddafi called on people to “cleanse Tripoli of rats” and confirmed that he was still secretly present in Tripoli.

On August 24, the chairman of the Libyan National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, announced that parliamentary and presidential elections would be held within eight months. “We want a democratic government and a fair constitution,” Mr. Mustafa Abdel Jalil affirmed.

Mustafa Abdel Jalil also announced that leader Gaddafi will be tried in the country he has led for the past 42 years. AFP quoted the rebel leader as saying that to have a fair trial, Gaddafi must be captured alive and treated differently from the way he treated his opponents.

In Tripoli, gun battles between Gaddafi loyalists and rebels continue. The fighting in the capital over the past three days, when rebels launched an attack, has killed more than 400 people, injured 2,000 and, according to the rebels, nearly 600 Gaddafi loyalists have been captured.

In the east, rebels are continuing to tighten their grip on Sirte, Gaddafi's hometown, where negotiations are underway for pro-Gaddafi forces to surrender.

On the same day, Gaddafi's forces continued to fire Scud missiles from Syrte towards the rebel-held coastal city of Misrata. According to Western sources, Gaddafi's forces currently have in stock about 240 ballistic missiles and Scud B missiles with a range of 300km.

(According to Tuoi Tre)