Libyan rebels have confirmed they’re ready to attack one of Moammar Gadhafi’s remaining strongholds after they said surrender talks had broken down, MSNBC is reporting. Mahmoud Abdul Azil, a negotiator for the National Transitional Council, the political body representing anti-Gadhafi forces, has confirmed that the talks are over.
The news of the preparation for the attack comes after the rebels said they tried to negotiate a peaceful surrender. The rebels, who have controlled most of Libya since the capital of Tripoli fell last month, and Gadhafi and his allies went on the run, have accused Bani Walid tribal leaders of stalling.
A spokesman for Gadhafi, Moussa Ibrahim, said the former leader is in the country at an undisclosed location, and he’s surrounded by people who are prepared to protect him if necessary. Ibrahim also denied suggestions that Bani Walid is ready to surrender.
Rebels have also said they’re prepared to attack Sirte, if necessary. Naji al-Maghrabi, the commander of the Omar al-Mukhtar Brigade, has said rebels are just waiting for the go-ahead from the council to move into the city, which is dividing the country in two between Benghazi and Tripoli.
Libyans are looking forward tot he post-war future, however, and hope negotiations with foreign governments will help resume their oil and gas exporting. Life is slowly returning to normal in Tripoli.
Written by: Karen Benardello
