Final battle is imminent, say rebels as Gaddafi daughter delivers baby

BENGHAZI, Libya, Tuesday

The launch of the final battle in Libya is imminent, the rebels’ military chief Colonel Ahmed Omar Bani has said.

“Zero hour is quickly approaching. We would like everyone to know that we are ready for a final military battle,” he told a news conference in the rebel stronghold in the east today.

“So far we have been given no indication of a peaceful surrender. We want everyone to know that we are prepared militarily for the battle that will end the conflict,” he said.

Asked about possible rebel moves, he replied: “this is a ‘military intelligence’ issue”, and declined to elaborate.

“We continue to seek a peaceful solution, but on Saturday we will use different methods against these criminals,” he said.

Earlier, National Transitional Council chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil told reporters in Benghazi that the NTC was giving a Saturday ultimatum for Muammar Gaddafi’s forces to surrender or face a military onslaught.

“This window of opportunity will be closed at the end of Eid al-Fitr (on Friday in Libya),” Mr Jalil said, adding that talks were under way with officials in towns including Gaddafi’s birthplace Sirte to arrange their peaceful surrender.“From Saturday, if no peaceful solution is in sight on the ground, we will resort to military force,” he warned.

According to Col Bani, rebel fighters may have killed Gaddafi’s intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court.

Rebel fighters had destroyed two armoured vehicles between the towns of Bani Walid and Tarhuna, southeast of Tripoli, and captured Gaddafi loyalists who told them that one of the passengers was Senussi, Bani said, adding that he is yet to be buried.

Meanwhile, Libyan state television denied in a message posted on the Internet yesterday that Gaddafi’s son, Khamis, was dead as claimed by the rebels.

“We repeat that information on the death of Khamis Gaddafi is a lie,” the Allibya network, which is run by Seif al-Islam, reported on its Facebook page.

Late on Monday, opposition officials, citing rebel leaders, said that Khamis, 28, was killed south of Tripoli and buried on the same day.

In another development, Gaddafi’s daughter gave birth to a baby girl in Algeria today. The newborn girl was named Safiya, after their grandmother, according to Ennahar newspaper.

“Aisha gave birth very early this morning. She had a little girl. Mother and daughter are doing fine,” said a government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Algiers said it decided to grant safe haven to the wife and three children of the ousted Libyan leader for “strictly humanitarian reasons.”

Earlier today, foreign ministry spokesman Amar Belani insisted that Aisha, her brothers, Mohammed and Hannibal, as well as their mother Safiya, Gaddafi’s second wife, were allowed into Algeria “for strictly humanitarian reasons.”

The newspaper said the family crossed via the Tinkarine border post in the far south and was flown 400 kilometres northwest to Djanet, where Aisha was admitted to hospital.

The family was placed under house arrest in the desert town, according to the daily, Ennahar. NTC has criticised the announcement from Algeria, which has not recognised the transitional council as Libya’s new authority, amid speculation that Algiers backed Gaddafi through the months-long conflict and is troubled by his downfall. (AFP)