Revolutionaries closing in on Tripoli

Libyan revolutionary forces, already in full control of several key cities, are reportedly advancing towards the capital, Tripoli.


Anti-regime forces say they have captured the city of Sirt -- the hometown of embattled ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

However, reports suggest they are still locked in fighting with Gaddafi troops.

At least nine explosions have been reported in the city on Monday. No further details are available.

The opposition forces have already taken control of the cities of Ras Lanuf, Ben Jawad, Uqaylah, Ajdabiyah and Brega.

They are now pushing their way westwards along the coastline towards Tripoli where Gaddafi is holed up.

Meanwhile, fresh coalition airstrikes are reported as Libya's revolutionary forces advance closer to the capital.

According to Libyan media reports, Western forces have targeted residential areas in the southern city of Sabha, leaving civilian casualties.

Dozens of civilians have been killed in Libya since US-led forces launched aerial and sea attacks on the North African country. Moreover, Libyan troops have also killed thousands of civilians since the revolution started against Colonel Gaddafi in mid-February.

Russian Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the US-led military coalition of igniting a civil war in the North African country.

He has also charged that the US-led airstrikes were in violation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1973 that envisaged a no-fly zone only to protect civilians.

"We are currently seeing and hearing media reports, here as well as in Europe and in the US, saying that officials of the countries involved in this coalition are making statements that on the one hand are confirming that the only goal they are pursuing is the protection of the civilian population, but on the other hand reports are coming - and no one denies them - on coalition air force strikes against Gadhafi's columns of troops, reports about the support of the actions of the armed insurgents. There is a clear contradiction here. We believe that interference of the coalition in the internal - as a matter of fact - civil war, has not been sanctioned by the UN Security Council resolution," Lavrov told a news conference on Monday.