Libyan Forces Close in on Gaddafi’s Home Town

Libyan forces closed in on Muammar Gaddafi's home town Sunday, vowing to seize it by force if negotiations failed, and their leaders ruled out any talks with the deposed ruler, other than on the terms of his surrender.

Gaddafi's foes were advancing on his birthplace of Sirte, which straddles the east-west coastal road, but one commander said "liberating" the city could take over 10 days.

Tripoli streets were quiet after sporadic overnight gunfire and explosions in the capital, traumatized by emerging evidence of widespread summary killings that took place during last week's battles to drive Gaddafi out.

Gaddafi, 69, has so far evaded capture, perhaps intending to lead an insurgency against his disparate opponents grouped loosely under the National Transitional Council (NTC).

"No negotiation is taking place with Gaddafi," Ali Tarhouni, the NTC official for oil and finance, told Reuters. "If he wants to surrender, then we will negotiate and we will capture him."

The Associated Press earlier quoted Gaddafi's spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, as saying Gaddafi was still in Libya and wanted to discuss forming a transitional government with the NTC.

NTC officials say the war will go on until Gaddafi is killed or captured and insist that he, his son Saif al-Islam and his spy chief should be tried in Libya, although they are wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.