Hundreds of troops descend on Sirte and Bani Walid
Militant forces belonging to Libya’s new government are pushing into two of the remaining Gadhafi loyalist strongholds, sending hundreds of troops and tanks into the cities of Sirte and Bani Walid. Reuters reported on Friday that government forces have seized a key valley leading into Bani Walid, which is located 180 km south of Tripoli. A commander told the BBC that his forces are advancing into “the heart of Bani Walid” and that they hope to hold Friday prayers in the city after vanquishing the Gadhafi loyalists. In Sirte, Gadhafi’s birthplace on the Mediterranean coast, government forces have also reported making advances, although there remains heavy resistance from pro-Gadhafi fighters. According to the BBC, at least four government troops have been killed there so far.