22 August 2011 – RT

Early on Monday morning, tanks rolled out of Muammar Gaddafi’s Tripoli residence and began shelling the rebels who had gathered near the compound as sustained heavy gunfire was heard in the Libyan capital.

­Muammar Gaddafi’s whereabouts is still not known.

Rebels now admit that from 15 to 20 per cent of Tripoli remains under the control of loyalist troops, contradicting earlier claims that the city was practically under their full control, with the exception of government buildings.

On Sunday night, the rebels advanced through the Libyan capital from three directions – east, south and west – without meeting any significant resistance from the loyalist troops until arriving to the city’s Green Square where they rallied, renaming the area Martyrs’ Square.

Western leaders rushed to congratulate the Libyan people on their victory and urged Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to quit power peacefully.

‘Tonight, the momentum against the Gaddafi regime has reached a tipping point. Tripoli is slipping from the grasp of a tyrant,’ announced US President Barack Obama.

British PM David Cameron promised that ‘the end is near for Gaddafi’.

Meanwhile, the rebels have warned of intelligence reports indicating that troops loyal to Muammar Gaddafi are advancing towards the center of the Libyan capital.

The situation in Tripoli is chaotic, with few precise details emerging of developments in the capital.