NTC forces enter hometown of Gadafi

TRIPOLI - The forces of Libya's ruling National Transitional Council (NTC), backed by NATO warplanes, have marched into Sirte, the hometown of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, after fierce fighting with troops loyal to Gaddafi,  Qatar-based al-Jazeera television reported Saturday.

TV footage showed that NTC forces were entering the city on pick-up trucks and firing heavy artillery at positions of Gaddafi' s loyalists.

The report said panicked residents were trying to flee the besieged Mediterranean coastal city, one of few last redoubts still held by Gaddafi's troops.

The report quoted NTC fighters as saying that NATO warplanes were providing aerial support for them and African mercenaries were fighting along with Gaddafi's supporters.