Clashes near Gaddafi's compound

Fighting rages in Tripoli near compound of beleaguered Libyan leader as rebels sweep into capital.

The sound of heavy fighting and gun battles were heard in pockets of Tripoli, after rebels overnight gained control of much of the Libyan capital in a sweeping operation. Clashes erupted on Monday after tanks left Bab Azaziya, Gaddafi's compound in Tripoli, and foreign journalists have been trapped inside the Rixos hotel. "They are not allowed to leave the hotel because there are Gaddafi men in the area and around the area," Zeina Khodr, Al Jazeera's correspondent, said from Green Square. "We have been in contact with some of them [journalists trapped in Rixos hotel] and they are telling us basically they were held there almost as human shields." In other developments: Gaddafi's two eldest sons are in custody. Saif al-Islam, had been arrested in a tourist village in western Tripoli and has been detained by the International Criminal Court and Mohammed, surrendered to rebel forces and spoke to Al Jazeera shortly afterwards. US President Barack Obama says momentum against Gaddafi has reached a tipping point as world leaders heralded a "new beginning" for Libya. For the latest news and developments on Libya check out Al Jazeera's Libya Live Blog Throughout the night, euphoric Libyan rebels moved into the centre of Tripoli as Gaddafi's defenders melted away and thousands of jubilant civilians rushed out of their homes to cheer the long convoys of pickup trucks packed with fighters shooting in the air. Green Square which has now been renamed Martyrs Square by the rebels had been the site of night rallies by Gaddafi supporters throughout the uprising. The rebels' surprising and speedy leap forward, after six months of largely deadlocked civil war, was packed into just a few dramatic hours. By nightfall on Sunday, they had advanced more than 32km to Tripoli. Our correspondent said rebels have tried to maintain order in the capital. "The people of Tripoli really are maintaining law and order in the areas that they are now controlling in Tripoli. "They have set up checkpoints, are searching cars and looking for possible Gaddaffi supporters, because ever since late last night they were worried about sleeper cells in the capital." There has been no word on the whereabouts of Gaddafi himself. Gaddafi has delivered a series of angry and defiant audio messages in recent days, vowing not to surrender. In the latest one, he acknowledged that opposition forces were moving into Tripoli and warned the city would be turned into another Baghdad. "How come you allow Tripoli, the capital, to be under occupation once again?" he said. "The traitors are paving the way for the occupation forces to be deployed in Tripoli." South Africa is understood to be in negotiations with the Gaddafi camp to find a country of refuge for the Libyan leader. Al Jazeera's correspondent in Johannesburg, Haru Matasa, said Angola and Zimbabwe have been cited as countries the embattled leader is most likely to go to.

Source :   :  Al Jazeera and agencies