Gaddafi Troops Slaughter Rebel Prisoners in Sirte - Report

People trample on a portrait of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on 25 August 2011 at the entrance of hotel in Tripoli, Libya. EPA/BGNES

Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's loyalist forces in his stronghold Sirte are executing their rebel prisoners, say reports cited by international media.

The Gaddafi forces in Sirte are said to be killing their prisoners of war and burying them in a mass grave, according to a rebel radio, cited by a BBC correspondent on the spot Thursday night.

While the reports could also be propaganda messages and could not be verified, they are said to have a powerful influence on the rebel forces that would likely preclude a negotiated settlement of the battle for Sirte.

Earlier Thursday night, Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi's loyalists managed to halt the advance on the rebels against one of the last remaining Gaddafi bastions, his hometown of Sirte.

The Gaddafi forces have ambushed a large column of rebel vehicles near the town of Bin Jawad, according to international reports, killing dozens of rebels, with the rest withdrawing hastily to the east towards the town of Ras Lanuf.

The region of Sirte – the birthplace of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi and one his last strongholds – became the target of the Libyan rebels earlier on Thursday.

Sirte 450 km east of Tripoli and Sabha – 600 km south – are Gaddafi's two last major strongholds.

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