Libya: Nato plans final onslaught on Gaddafi's forces (& rebels are being advised by SAS soldiers)

[Turborama]

Source: The Guardian

Nato to resume bombing campaign after 'tactical pause' as it emerges that rebels are being advised by SAS soldiers

Richard Norton-Taylor, Luke Harding in Tripoli, Julian Borger and Christopher Stephen in Misrata
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday August 23 2011 14.50 BST

British and Nato military commanders are planning what they hope will be a final onslaught on Colonel Gaddafi's forces to put an end to all resistance from troops loyal to the Libyan leader.

Heavy fighting raged around Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound, in Tripoli, on Tuesday afternoon as rebels rained artillery rounds, mortar shells and missiles on loyalist positions.

=snip=

The Guardian has learned that a number of serving British special forces soldiers, as well as ex-SAS troopers, are advising rebel forces, although their presence is officially denied.

=snip=

More rebel fighters arrived by boat, and a separate convoy of jeeps and artillery was heading west from Misrata, according to rebels in the eastern city, which had been besieged by government forces for five months.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/23/libya-nato-onslaught-gaddafi-forces

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The Guardian's live blog: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2011/aug/23/libya-tripoli-battle-live-updates

The BBC's live coverage can be watched and read here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14610722

[Kolesar]

1. Glenn Greenwald blows a blood vessel on the news! ... eom

[Skip_In_Boulder]

2. They have really good coverage on Al-Jazeera right now

http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

One of their correspondents in Tripoli had a few rounds of sniper fire wizz by his head a few moments ago as they are really on the front lines.