Anti-Kadhafi forces admit losses in Sirte offensive

MISRATA, Libya (AFP) - Anti-Kadhafi authorities on Wednesday admitted heavy losses in an assault on the deposed Libyan despot's hometown Sirte, but said they have captured a string of oasis towns.

The United States prepared meanwhile to raise the US flag over its reopening embassy in Tripoli, after President Barack Obama met Libya's new leader in New York and said the world would stand with his country as it consolidates freedom.

"Today, the Libyan people are writing a new chapter in the life of their nation," Obama said after meeting NTC chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil, adding that "after four decades of darkness, they can walk the streets, free from a tyrant."

On the battlefront, at least three National Transitional Council fighters, all in their 30s, were killed and 17 wounded Tuesday in Sirte as they encountered unexpectedly fierce resistance from Kadhafi loyalists, said medics.

"The offensive on Sirte has been high intensity in terms of casualties," Dr Suheib Abu Garza told AFP in Misrata, about 150 kilometres (95 miles) east of Sirte, where the casualties of battle are being brought.

Overall, medics said at least 45 NTC fighters have been killed and more than 200 wounded since they moved on Sirte from the west and south on September 15, while another NTC force is fighting from the east.

Such volumes of serious cases, Garza said, had not been seen since forces loyal to Moamer Kadhafi laid siege to Misrata soon after the rebellion began in February.

Sporadic rocket fire and mortar exchanges shook Sirte, witnesses said, although the former rebels have reduced their use of heavy artillery since Sunday in a bid to give families a chance to flee.

Meanwhile, 16 patients -- most in critical condition -- were evacuated on a Qatari military plane to Malta, easing the pressure on overwhelmed hospitals.

"There's too much pressure in the operating rooms so we are sending those in critical condition to operating theatres abroad," Dr Mahmud al-Bakhush told AFP.

NTC forces suspect Kadhafi enjoys a broad base of support in Sirte.

"The majority of residents are with Kadhafi," said Zuber al-Gadir, spokesman of the Misrata military council, adding their ongoing loyalty to the ousted leader's was a legacy of his now defunct propaganda machine.

Elsewhere, NTC forces reported that they seized the most of Waddan and were only facing pockets of resistance in other towns of the Al-Jufra oasis, about 300 kilometres (186 miles) south of Sirte.

"Seventy percent of the Al-Jufra has been liberated. Waddan is freed, our forces entered the town following NATO bombing of Al-Hisha dam 20 kilometres from the town," Mustafa Huni, an NTC official in Benghazi told AFP.

The new leadership's forces had said Tuesday they captured the airport and a garrison in Kadhafi's southern desert redoubt of Sabha, as fighting raged in two of his northern strongholds.

Despite the setbacks, the fugitive Kadhafi told his remaining loyalists in Libya that the new regime is only temporary, in his latest comments aired on Syrian-based Arrai television, Kadhafi.

"What is happening in Libya is a charade which can only take place thanks to the (NATO-led) air raids, which will not last forever," said Kadhafi, who has been at large since NTC forces overran Tripoli on August 25.

"Do not rejoice and don't believe that one regime has been overthrown and another imposed with the help of air and maritime strikes," he added.

The recording was the first by Kadhafi since September 8, when he denied reports he had fled to Algeria or Niger.

As Libya's new rulers were feted in New York, however, interim prime minister Mahmud Jibril said the country's first formal government since Kadhafi's ousted would be announced within seven to 10 days.

"Most of the work has been done. It is a question of the number of ministries and the location of the ministries," said Jibril, noting that "for a country which was absent from any democratic process for 42 years... what's taking place is natural".

His statement came after a special summit at which world leaders promised to help the new government and President Obama announced the US embassy would be reopening and the ambassador, Gene Cretz, would be returning for Thursday's flag-raising ceremony.

And in another sign that Kadhafi's days on the run are numbered, the African Union, which had long held out against recognising the NTC as Libya's new rulers, on Tuesday finally announced it was doing so.