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. His whereabouts remain unknown. Here we will bring you the latest developments as they happen.

Special: Libya conflict

Live report on Wednesday

On  Tuesday

9:38 am

A British doctor in Tripoli, who identified himself only as Moez, has been speaking to the BBC about the grim medical situation in the capital. He said: "Right in front of me... a big truck has just turned up - and there are 20 bodies in the back of it, just thrown everywhere, with blood all over the place. They smell like they've been there at least a day or two."

9 am

Round-up of the most recent developments:

• The hunt for the Libyan leader has intensified after a bounty of $1.7 million was offered to kill or capture Colonel Gadhafi who remains on the run - four days after rebel forces entered Tripoli.

• Intense fighting continues across the capital as forces loyal to Colonel Gadhafi refuse to give up, but most of Tripoli appears to be in rebel hands.

• The capital's hospitals remain overwhelmed with "countless casualties" and bodies from the fighting. 

• The international journalists and dignitaries trapped by Gaddafi loyalists inside the Rixos hotel have been released, but the situation for those covering the conflict in other parts of Libya is grave. Four Italian journalists working for Corriere della Sera, La Stampa and Avvenire have been kidnapped. Two French journalists have been shot and wounded.

 

6:57 am

The second in command of Libya's intelligence services and Muammar Gaddafi's health minister declared their allegiance to rebel forces during interviews aired on Al Arabiya television on Wednesday.

 

6:54 am

Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) will seek to have $5 billion in frozen assets released to jump-start the country's economy and provide vital relief to its citizens, a senior rebel leader said.

 

5:44 am

Libyan rebels fought a fierce battle with Muammar Gadhafi's top military commander at his farm in Tripoli on Wednesday, a rebel spokesman said in comments broadcast on Al Arabiya TV.

 

5:15 am

The UN Security Council met behind closed doors Wednesday afternoon upon the request from the Unites States to discuss whether to unfreeze 1.5 billion U.S. dollars Libyan assets.

 

4:40 am

Four Italian journalists have been taken hostage in conflict-torn Libya as they were travelling from Zawiya to the capital city of Tripoli, the Italian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

 

3:35 am

Foreign ministers of the Arab League countries underlined here Wednesday the necessity to speed up actions for the stability, security and peace in Libya.

 

2:20 am

The contact group meeting due on September 1 is very important and the transition authority of Libya needs more aid, both in terms of security and economy, Libyan rebel leader Mahmoud Jibril said Wednesday besides French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a joint press conference in the Elysee Palace.

 

1:10 am

Libya's rebel troops Wednesday took control of the Mazraq al-Shams army base in Libya's port city of Zuara, some 60 km from the Tunisian border, the Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV reported.

 

00:20 am

Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who have been fighting to retake Tripoli, are firing at rebels inside the Bab al-Azizya compound and bombing other areas of the central capital, the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV reported Wednesday.