NATO giving rebels intelligence in Gadhafi hunt
Welcome to our live rolling coverage of the continuing events in Libya as the battle for Tripoli enters day four. The head of the National Transitional Council says a reward of $1.7 million is offered for whoever finds Colonel Gadhafi, dead or alive. The NATO military alliance is giving intelligence and reconnaissance assistance to Libyan rebels hunting Muammar Gaddafi and his sons. But his whereabouts remain unknown. Here we will bring you the latest developments as they happen.
5:44 am
The Libyan rebels announced Thursday to move their government to Tripoli.
5:41 am
The United Nations will release 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in Libyan assets after the United States and South Africa reached deal on the issue on Thursday, a diplomat close to the talks said.
5:05 am
Two days after the Libyan rebels entered Muammar Gaddafi's Bab Al-Aziziya compound in western Tripoli, hunt for the embattled leader intensified Thursday as rebel fighters were exploring tunnels in the compound.
4:48 am
Libya's Muammar Gaddafi called on his supporters to march on Tripoli and "purify" the capital of rebels, who he denounced as "rats, crusaders and unbelievers" in a defiant, angry speech that betrayed no hint of despondency.
4:36 am
Defected Libyan ex-prime minister Abdessalam Abdel Jalloud said in Rome, Italy at a press conference on Thursday that he was ready to found a new political party.
4:35 am
UN under-secretary-general for political affairs B. Lynn Pascoe said here on Thursday that the United Nations will assist Libya at the directives of its new government after the current conflict in the North African nation has come to a close.
3:40 am
The Libya contact group called on the embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his inner circle to surrender at the conclusion of its meeting in Istanbul on Thursday.
2:15 am
U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said on Thursday that Washington expected the UN to lead the potential police support to Libya if it was requested by the country's opposition.
1: 20 am
Tunisia's main border post with Libya, Ras El Jedir, is on alert as the number of people injured in the fighting in Libya is witnessing a sharp increase, the official press agency TAP reported Thursday.
0:54 am
More than 20,000 people have been killed in Libya since the civil conflict started in February in the North African state, rebel leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil said.
0:25 am
The Libya Contact Group promised here on Thursday to release 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in frozen Libyan assets to the National Transitional Council (NTC) before the end of the month.
11:35 pm
The takeover of Tripoli is almost complete. The symbolic heart of Muammar Gaddafi's regime, the walled compound of Bab al-Aziziya, is now being claimed by rebels.
10:49 pm
The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it wasn't invited by France to participate in an international conference on the Libyan situation.
10:30 pm
As Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's rule crumbles, fears over the whereabouts of his remaining weapons, especially surface-to-air missiles, are topping the fears of neighbouring nations in the Sahel region he had for long held sway over.
10:02 pm
The head of Libya's rebel council on Thursday urged people in parts of the country still under Muammar Gaddafi's control to "join the revolution" and said he welcomed talks with groups in those areas to avoid more killing.
9:16 pm
A group of rebels besieging a cluster of apartment buildings near the compound of Muammar Gaddafi said they believed the man who led Libya for four decades was hiding in the buildings with some of his sons.
8:51 pm
The Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova has urged the people of Libya and all those involved in the international art and antiquities trade to protect the country's cultural heritage through the period of transition as the rebels force has controlled the most part of the country.
8:33 pm
Senior officials from 29 countries and seven international organizations started a meeting of Libya contact group here on Thursday.
8:19 pm
The United Nations should play the central role in rebuilding Libya following violence that has continued since rebels drove Muammer Gaddafi from his stronghold in Tripoli, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
8:10 pm
Libyan rebel government leader Mahmood Jibril warned on Thursday of dangerous destabilisation without urgent financial help from the West to restore services and pay government salaries.
7:30 pm
Libyan commandos fighting Muammar Gaddafi came close to capturing the toppled leader on Wednesday when they raided a private home in Tripoli where he appeared to have been hiding, Paris Match magazine said on Thursday.
6:54 pm
The Arab League gave its full backing to Libya's rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people on Thursday and said it was time for Libya to take back its permanent seat on the League's council.
6:30 pm
Four Italian journalists who were abducted near Zawiya in Libya on Wednesday have been freed, Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported on its web site.
6:09 pm
The Arab League recognized Thursday the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.
6:04 pm
A media source brushed off allegations about the presence of Syrian volunteers fighting alongside the Libyan government, saying such news aim at "encroaching upon Syria's position towards the developments sister Libya is passing through."