Libyans Celebrate Victory in Misrata

Anti-Gaddafi Protesters Control Misrata: Witness

Reuters
Thursday February 24, 2011

RABAT | - Anti-Libyan government militias took control of Misrata late on Thursday after evicting forces loyal to leader Muammar Gaddafi from the Mediterranean coastal city, prompting street celebrations, a witness said.

Resident Mohamed Senoussi, 41, said protesters had overcome the security forces and taken full control of Misrata, about 200 km (125 miles) east of Tripoli, after a "fierce battle" near its airport.

"Calm returned to the city around four hours ago after intense fighting in the morning ... The people's spirits here are high, they are celebrating and chanting 'God is Greatest'," he told Reuters by telephone.

"The civilians are now organizing traffic, searching pedestrians for weapons. They have arrested some armed intruders believed to be from Tripoli. Every now and then, we hear gunshots but it's nothing like the intense exchanges earlier in the day," he added.

"There are rumors that government forces and mercenaries are trying to regroup at the city limits to launch new attacks but our armed youths are roaming the forests around the city where many are believed to be hiding."

An unspecified number of government forces and foreign mercenaries were killed after they stormed protesters near the city's airport earlier on Thursday, he said.

"Some were killed, others were arrested or surrendered. The protesters arrested 20 mostly African mercenaries and two Libyan soldiers. I have seen them in shackles," Senoussi said.

"The death toll among civilians is seven, mostly at the city's main medical facility, and around 25 were wounded."

He said civilians were trying to re-organize things by setting up committees to run the city.

"A lot of people have left their homes to donate blood, others came with food supplies," he said.

Witnesses in Tripoli have told Reuters there was no sign Gaddafi's forces had lost control there: uniformed police were directing traffic as usual, state television was broadcasting and pro-Gaddafi supporters held a rally in the city.