NTC troops enter Gaddafi's hometown

TRIPOLI - Bloodshed continued Saturday in the turbulent North Africa as fighters of Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) marched into Gaddafi's hometown Sirte.

The NTC forces, backed by NATO warplanes, have entered Sirte, reaching places as close as half a kilometer from the center of Gaddafi's stronghold, after fierce fighting with troops loyal to the deposed leader.

The NTC soldiers moved up tanks and mortars and entered the city on pick-up trucks mounted with anti-aircraft machineguns, local media reported.

In Tripoli, a navy arms depot exploded Saturday afternoon, leaving a blanket of heavy dark smoke over the entire city.

Loud explosions were heard in a suburban area in Tripoli and heavy smoke was seen rising from the blast-hit area. Roads leading to the blast-hit area have been closed to the public by some NTC fighters, who claimed that it was a burning accident on a ship near a port, about 2 km from downtown Tripoli. But those close to the scene told Xinhua that there were possibilities that the explosions were carried out by Gaddafi's remnant forces.

At the UN headquarters, Mahmoud Jibreel, chairman of the NTC Executive Office, said Saturday that in the wake of the conflict that ousted Gaddafi, the nation has been reinvigorated. Addressing the 66th session of the UN General Assembly during its general debate, Jibreel said Libya needs help to recover from its recent conflict although Gaddafi is gone.

Libya has had, according to Jibreel, a great deal of infrastructure destroyed including 63 schools. He also stressed the need for institution building in the North African country.