Global Reactions China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu: “We have noticed the developments in Libya. China respects the choice of Libyan people, hopes the situation returns to normal soon and its people live a normal life. China is willing to work with the international society to play a positive role in the future reconstruction.” Spokesman for EU Foreign Affairs Chief Catherine Ashton: "We seem to be witnessing the last moments of the Gaddafi regime and we call on Gaddafi to step down without further delay and avoid further bloodshed." Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard: "We continue to call on Colonel Gadhafi to get out of the way and of course we believe he should face the international charges that are against him." UK Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt: "The first and most important thing is to make sure that civil order is preserved, that there is food, that there is water, there is power -- all the things that people need to make sure their daily lives go on." Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini: "The only route that Gadhafi should follow is that of giving himself up." UAE Political Scientist Abdulkhaleq Abdulla: "The most important thing that happened in Libya on the night of August 22 is not the fall of Gadhafi's regime but the joining of 5 million people to the procession of freedom." Hamas Spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri: "Hamas welcomes the entry by Libyan revolution fighters into the capital Tripoli and congratulates them on this great victory." Shadi Hamid, Research Director of Brookings Doha Center: "Arabs needed this, they needed another victory, this changes the whole tone in the region after several months of disappointment. You can see this on Twitter and Facebook that the whole region is watching this very closely.     Egyptian Presidential Candidate Hamdeen Sabahy: "I salute the triumph of the Libyan people after a long struggle against Gadhafi's rule."

BENGHAZI/TRIPOLI - Libyan rebel forces have till early Monday seized control of much of Tripoli and taken two of Colonel Muammar Gadhafi's sons into custody.

People wave flags of the Kingdom of Libya and hold a cartoon illustration of Libya's leader Muammar Gadhafi as they gather near the courthouse in Benghazi August 22, 2011 to celebrate the entry of rebel fighters into Tripoli. [Photo/Agencies]

Rebels waving opposition flags were seen in the wee hours entering the Green Square in the heart of the capital, a highly symbolic place where Gadhafi's supporters had often rallied during the past weeks.

Senior official Abdullah Almayhop from the National Transitional Council (NTC) said Sunday that opposition forces had controlled the entire capital except Gadhafi's Bab Al-Aziziyah stronghold and were clearing up the remnants of Gadhafi's troops.

Facing the offensive of the rebels, forces loyal to Gadhafi appeared to have crumbled quickly, and the guard unit responsible for Gadhafi's security had reportedly surrendered to the rebels.

At present, the whereabouts of Muammar Gadhafi remains a mystery. Gadhafi had vowed to fight to the last drop of blood and not to leave Libya.

Senior rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril, however, cautioned that "the fight is not over yet," while expressing the hope on rebel television that "in few hours our victory will be complete."

The rapid collapse of Gadhafi's defense came though the embattled leader urged his followers twice on Sunday to pick up arms and fight against the rebels, calling it "the obligation of all Libyans" and "a matter of life or death."

Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said Sunday that some 1,300 people had been killed in fighting in Tripoli on Sunday and that NATO should be held responsible for the bloodshed.

The government was ready for immediate negotiations with the rebels, he added, while urging NATO to persuade the rebel forces to halt attacks at the capital.

Gadhafi's sons held

Meanwhile, the rebels announced that Gadhafi's eldest son Mohammed had surrendered and Gadhafi's second son Saif al-Islam had been captured and kept under custody in a safe place.

Hereafter, in a TV interview with Al Jazeera, Mohammed Al-Gaddafi said the reason of his surrender is that he wants peace.

Libya's problems are partially caused by unwise decisions, said Mohammed Al-Gaddafi.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's most prominent son, Saif al-Islam, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Tripoli in March 10, 2011 file photograph. [Photo/Agencies]

The arrest of Saif al-Islam has also been confirmed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague, which issued arrest warrants in June for Gadhafi, Saif al-Islam and Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi over charges of crimes against humanity.

The Tripoli battle was the culmination of days of dramatic changes on the frontline which saw the rebels, backed by NATO air strikes, break an apparent stalemate and close in on the capital from three directions.

Speaking at Brussels, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said early Monday that Gadhafi's 42-year rule in Libya is "clearly crumbling," while urging the pro-Gadhafi forces to stop resistance and spare the Libyan people "further bloodshed and suffering."

"NATO is ready to work with the Libyan people and with the Transitional National Council, which holds a great responsibility, " he said in a statement.

"They must make sure that the transition is smooth and inclusive, that the country stays united, and that the future is founded on reconciliation and respect for human rights," he added.

US President Barack Obama is expected to make a statement on the Libyan situation soon. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said earlier that Gadhafi's days "are numbered."

A statement from British Prime Minister David Cameron said "it is clear from the scenes we are witnessing in Tripoli that the end is near for Gadhafi."

In Paris, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a statement Sunday that Gadhafi should give up "immediately what power he has left" as a rebel victory is "no longer in doubt."

Also on Sunday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lashed out at Western powers for "destroying Tripoli with bombs," saying that "let's pray for the Libyan people."

Libya has been embroiled for months in the deadliest turbulence that swept West Asia and North Africa after its initial eruption in Tunisia.

Some Western powers militarily intervened in March under the name of a UN resolution adopted to protect Libyan civilians, and NATO took over control of the mission weeks later.