Libya’s NTC forces have "liberated" the northwestern town of Bani Walid, which used to be one of Gaddafi’s remaining strongholds

Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) forces have "liberated" the northwestern town of Bani Walid, which used to be one of Gaddafi's remaining strongholds.

NTC commander, Colonel Abdullah Naker, said on Sunday that the council had raised its flag in the center of the town, Reuters reported.

Earlier in the day, the fighters had announced that they had seized control of about 60 percent of the town.

They had also arrested around 20 loyalists to the fugitive former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi.

Operations to rid Bani Walid of the remnants of the loyalists are expected to begin early Monday.

Meanwhile, the fighters continued their struggle against Gaddafi's forces in the center of the northern city of Sirte, the former dictator's hometown and now his only remaining stronghold.

A pro-Gaddafi TV channel confirmed the death of the toppled Libyan leader's youngest son, Khamis, who had been reported killed by National Transitional Council fighters late in August.
  
Arrai, a Damascus-based broadcaster that has become the favored forum for Gaddafi and the remnants of his ousted regime, said late Sunday that Khamis was killed August 29 in Tarhuna, some 80 kilometres (50 miles) southwest of Tripoli while fighting "enemies of the homeland."