Rebels took over Sirte, Gaddafi's home town

With air force support by the international coalition, Libya rebels conquered town after town from the hands of the regime in Tripoli. Monday, they managed to recover and Sirte, Muammar Gaddafi's hometown.

AFP agency reports that last night at least nine strong explosions were heard in the town of Sirte, after NATO took the command of the operations from the U.S. forces. "NATO agreed on Sunday to implement all aspects of resolution 1973 UN to protect civilians and civilian populated areas, threatened by the attacks of Gaddafi loyal forces" ,  said an NATO official.

Takeover of command by the NATO mission took places Saturday night after the attacks on Tripoli, attack labeled by Libyan television as a "colonial aggressor." Shortly after the explosions, the Libyan television confirmed that Sirte and Tripoli have been targeted by allied air strikes.

Witnesses claim that air strikes on Tirpoli were aimed against the road leading to the airport and at the east side of  the Ain Zara neighborhood.

In addition to Gaddafi's home town, rebels took control on other five cities, continuing its advance towards the west: Ajdabiyah, Brega, Uqayla, Ras Lanuf and Jawad Bin.