he made the point that the rebels have come into tripoli. he said that gadhafi forces had broken their backbone and given them a hard time before the door closed and he drove off. but he drove off in a motorcade into tripoli, clearly, into an area which is very much under control of the forces of his father. >> and you say -- he said the opposition had fallen into some sort of trap. what did he mean? the opposition was claiming besides capturing him but that they controlled 90% of tripoli. >> they are saying that. and, you know, i think there are questions tonight about to what extent that's the case. it's very difficult for us here in the hotel to verify how much of tripoli's controlled by the rebels and how much is controlled by gadhafi but i can tell you this, saif gadhafi got into that motorcade and drove off through the gates of the hotel into this area immediately around the hotel, the gadhafi compound is in this area. there are other key installations in this area and he was driving around with pretty limited security. a couple of oth

days the ntc will be based in tripoli, the capital, the process of stabilization of tripoli and getting on with the transition period will begin. >> what sort of government will this be? a lot of people are concerned about islamic influence among the rebels, possibly al qaeda-linked fighters fighting alongside you during this uprising what will this government look like as it takes shape? >> it will be a government of nationalists, mainly libyan nationalists. there will be technocrats, you know, experienced, qualified people who will be appointed to oversee the various portfolios during this transitional period. the transitional period is only temporary transitional, with spasm task of stabilizing the country, ensuring that the main services are maintained for the population. and also ensuring that there is a constitution casted by the libyan people and then approved through referendum and that constitution would provide the political framework for libya, what we hope will be a nationalist, democrat ic democr framework. after that, elections, possibly presidential and parliamentary elec

we are west of the capital tripoli. the rebels now say the important coastal road that helps supplies get directly into tripoli, they have now cleared that road. they say they are now inside tripoli from the west. the rebels saying they have made it into the city from the west. that is new information that we have been able to obtain now from one of the rebels fighters at the front line. an important development. we do know the rebels were in the city on the eastern part and now we know the rebels from this part of the country, from the western side of tripoli have now made it into the city. they say that they are planning on a fierce fight and are ready for it. they have made it to the capital. >> the big question is it seems as though as opposed to sort of the blood bath that was the expectation when rebels hit tripoli that it hasn't reached that level of violence that they are in many cases these rebels rolling in unopposed but there still has to be some concern that it won't be so easy all of the way through. >> rep

in towards tripoli and now say they have made it all the way into the city of tripoli. we were actually turned around on the coastal road. the important supply route into tripoli from zawiya because of the fears of fighting about 25 kilometers outside of the city. about 15 miles. but by tonight, and it is now about 1:00 in the morning here, they have pushed into the city. they say that there is still fierce fighting going on and they have pushed into the city from the west. >> the question is they are in tripoli now. this still could be a terribly, terribly bloody fight, sara? >> reporter: i think that is a very definitely. because no one quite knows what exactly what kind of fire power gadhafi and his regime have in that city. everyone's speculating that he has quite a bit. he said that he has plenty of fire power. that he will use by any means necessary to keep his position, but we do not know for sure what these rebels will be facing and, of course, what civilians will be facing. and one of the things we're hearing from these rebels is has they'll have to be very cau

to that part of the city that the socialist and part of tripoli. is very erratic in his behavior into very difficult to say what will he do i mean his son in the television yesterday said no no my father still here and we are fighting and he is not. the man to run away like the other dictators did but on the other hand side i'm quite sure that he must have an emergency exit from his bunker system and can escape i don't think that would take him to tunisia and definitely not maybe he might go to the south to tunisia and the other countries so bordering and take a plane from there to zimbabwe or to to very few countries north korea where he would be still accepted as a host so it's very difficult to say and it might take some time to discover him even if he stays in his own countries if we remember said that hussein how long it took to discover him in iraq. shapiro professor of political science at yale university thinks the situation in libya mirrors afghanistan with various competing tribes hungry for power. the comparison that comes to mind with m

every time that the rebels and the threat from the masses masses in tripoli and the libyan army nato. says anything that moves so really tiny well overdue for a cease fire and for negotiations that we've seen thousand three hundred people killed in the past twelve hours alone this is almost equal to. which was massacred in the three week by israel in gaza in two thousand and eight two thousand and nine so really. the wildcard as well raising that. raising their voices across the world because they are in two thousand and eight and two thousand and nine where are they for good people of tripoli and libya more than one thousand three hundred people have been killed within the last twelve hours of fighting this is according to the libyan government spokesman. he addressed to journalists in tripoli accusing nato forces of causing death and destruction. nato is that tacking the heart of a peaceful civilian city it's at that event. that has taken a defensive position is that certain volunteers and nato. air cover to these arms again have no political project no seen from it what they want

it may be more of the fighting is toward the south of tripoli and not the central tripoli any more. >> what is the mood on the streets like? have you had an opportunity? i appreciate it is very dangerous, but have you had an opportunity to get outside? >> yes, i went out today. i do not know how to explain it. it is nothing that we have ever felt before. although we are not completely free yet, i do not even know what to say. you just see -- there is a checkpoint every 25 meters at least. there is -- everyone is very safe. everyone loves each other for the first time in decades. everyone is happy and congratulating each other. all you hear is, congrats. god is great. >> at the checkpoints that you mentioned, it is not tense. >> are round or i am, yes, it is better. there has not been fighting for three or four days. they have got it under cover and they realize that no one here wants him. maybe just a couple of people. and his strong hold this where the fighting still is. we hope that will be over soon. >> did you ever think that in your lifetime this would happen, that colonel gaddaf

to bomb and here in tripoli every time that the rebels conduct threat from the masses the masses in tripoli and the libyan army nato bombs as abraham says anything that moves so really the time may well overdue for a cease fire and for negotiations that we've seen thousand three hundred people killed in the past twelve hours alone is almost equal to the number which was massacred in the three week by israel in gaza in two thousand and eight two thousand and nine so really the way the people of the wild as well raising that we sizwe some of them raising their voices across the world because they're in two thousand and eight and two thousand and nine where are they for the people of tripoli and for the people of libya more than one thousand three hundred people have been killed within the last twelve hours of fighting this is according to the libyan government spokesman. he addressed to journalists in tripoli accusing nato forces of causing death and destruction. nato is at the king the heart of it these foreign civilian city it's at the economic. that has taken defensive position is

in tripoli seven pm where the breaking news is that libyan rebels are inside colonel gadhafi tripoli compound following a fierce fight they now claim to control most of the capital three days after entering the city well these are the latest pictures from the compound and rebels are on the square where colonel gadhafi used to make speeches to the nation exactly where he is no one seems to know at the moment smoke has been rising over the libyan capital throughout tuesday as a result of pockets of placing a tree in the two sites and casualties are said to be ninety. the electricity in tripoli has been restored after i was. well of a blackout. well for more insight on the developments in libya let's cross live now to lindsey german she's an activist from the start coalition joining us live in london thanks very much indeed for being with us while western leaders have already started planning a post gadhafi libya despite the fact the opposition hasn't won yet but is the rebels potential victory a done deal now do you think i mean justifying the actions of nato well i think it looks as t

rebels have advanced somewhat to that part of the city that the socialist and part of tripoli's durfy is very erratic in his behavior in three difficult to say what will he do i mean his son and the television yesterday said no no my father you still here and we are fighting and he is not. the man to run away like the other dictators did but on the other hand side i'm quite sure that he must have an emergency exit from his bunker system and can escape i don't think that would take him to tunisians definitely not all maybe he might go to the south to tunisia and the other countries bordering and take a plane from there to zimbabwe or to do very few countries north korea where he would be still accepted as a host so it's very difficult to see and it might take some time to discover him even if he stays in his own countries if we remember saddam hussein how long it took to discover him in iraq. and while the whole world guesses where colonel gadhafi might be hiding world chess federation chief a curious son ill human gene off says he has spoken to him by telephone climate the car that hi

the red cross is here in tripoli. we're hoping they will be able to help us, but the security situation is quite difficult. and i tell you, lastly, that we are very resilient and still very strong and we have still thousands and thousands of fighters who have nowhere to go but to fight. so this will increase and increase, and the death toll will increase. because people are so scared of the revenge and hatred, of the other side if they win. each side, actually, is terrified of the other side. so let's suspend all military operations, all violence right now. nato can order the rebels to stop immediately. we can order our troops and volunteers to stop immediately. and then we sit. and just as the rebels have their leader or leaders who will lead the negotiations, and without them the rebels would be lost and destroyed, we have our leader. it's moammar gadhafi. we need him to lead us for peace and for a way out of this. if you take moammar gadhafi out of the equation, a whole side will collapse and become an easy prey fo

the things that happen in tripoli, how good the lines of communication are. so certainly, it is something where there's been issues in the past. by and large, of course, this is still the main representative -- the main representation of the rebels in libya. so they are the ones going forward. a lot of people believe are going to have to run the show after moammar gadhafi feeds power or is ousted from power any time soon, which of course is looking very likely at this point in time. already the leadership of the tnt in benghazi is talking about moving the operations and the leadership into tripoli and take over there once the situation on the ground is safe enough to do that. but yes, the big question is, are these people capable and do they have the backing of people who are fighting in tripoli and other areas to actually be able to run this country for an extended period of time. charles? >> okay. i mean, you say that they will move when the time is right. but are they making any plans? are they starting to pack their bags? have they given any indication as

the air of strategic communications they got the go ahead for the final march on tripoli itself so the british government actually knew this was all on the cards for some time now however it did concede that it does already have two hundred troops ready to be deployed from cyprus as peacekeepers should the situation in transition they want to send into an akita they're prepared for that and also six hundred more marines actually also stationed in the mediterranean to be deployed in what the government terms of the role of support for the humanitarian cause there clearly downing street at the moment refusing to rule. now the use of what could be almost one thousand ground troops should the situation call for it. there is some contradiction there to this idea of handing over control to the libyan people so they're in charge there own future and clearly the british and also other european states are not that confident just yet this transition will be as peaceful as they all want it to be. artie's either bennett there. may still be fighting in tripoli and just the latest developments there

spoken to the bbc and says government forces are winning the battle for tripoli. saif al-islam was seen at his father's compound and the city. he spoke to our correspondent. >> in the dark of the tripoli night, saif al-islam emerged from the shadows, clearly not under rubble rest. -- rebel arrest. >> i want to refute all rumors. nato and the west, they have launched electronic warfare. they have managed to smuggle into the country gangs and saboteurs. the libyan people, men and women, have stood firm against them. they managed to break the hold of the rebels. >> he took a foreign cameraman on a toro part of the city. they drove past checkpoints controlled by gaddafi loyalists, past groups of people lining up to be given weapons. it was a short drive that covered a sizable area around colonel gaddafi's compound on the southeastern part of tripoli. clearly, these are in government hands. saif al-islam's convoy has just left here. he told us they had broken the back bone of the rebels. we gave them a hard time, so we are winning, he said. saif al-islam appeared to be

aboveground, others were cut down in the battle for tripoli. in the compound, we found bodies lying where they fell. gaddafi loyalists, one rebel said. we can't be sure who killed them, but one man appeared to have been executed. he had been shot through the head with his hands still bound. a short distance away, the rebels are hunting for a sniper's nest. but up ahead, a glimpse of a bigger threat. such was the answer. a full scale street battle. the fighters were dangerously exposed. they brought out their improvised big guns. as their rockets propelled grenades. another burst of rebel gunfire there. they've been trying to move forward. for about an hour we were pinned down. then it was time to make a get-away. the rebels were running low on ammunition. we escaped with two bullet holes in our car. this is just one pocket of resistance. who knows how many more there may be. the rebels are tightening their grip here, but in the capital, these are still dangerous days. "bbc news," tripoli. >> as we saw there in that report, the situation in trip

against the crusaders. no one can enter tripoli. tripoli will be an exploding bomb. we will do everything to protect tripoli and its people. we are experts in dealing with nato. tripoli would be a death trap. it is these rebels against the crusaders. >> recent radio messages only help to maintain the aura of fear that many libyans are living in. >> they are trying to make their presence made. anything -- anyone listening to that it is amazing to see, this is the regime that can strike some fear. into people here. they wonder whether there could be some grander scheme that may come into the fore. the imam -- it has been repeated against -- across neighborhoods was announcing to the speakers that the water supply in tripoli has been poisoned and there have been several cases that have wound up in the hospital and he was calling out to residents in the area to switch off the water supply so that their tanks on the rooftop do not get water from the state. a lot of rumors flying around. i would dismiss them as rumors. however, people have taken it very seriously. we saw a

the continuing battle for tripoli. for look at what happens next, i'm joined by a former adviser to the u.s. state department and mark ginsburg. do you think that transitional council is up to the job? restore law-and-order and unite the country? >> i do not know if we know the answer to that yet. it is premature. the transitional national council is largely a council that has been led by the former justice minister. he does not have the charisma to unite the country which is basically a divided country. there is a great division between the transitional national council that originated in benghazi in those trouble leaders and opponents to the regime in tripoli as well as the west like ion laz rudder. they were unhappy over the failure of the council to provide adequate military resistance. can they restore safety and stability to tripoli as quickly as possible? that will be the most important task. >> when do you think we will see a functioning democracy in this country? is that possible at the moment? >> a functionin

tripoli and the libyan army nato. says anything that moves so really tiny well overdue for a cease fire and for negotiations that we've seen one thousand three hundred people killed in the past twelve hours alone is almost equal to. which was massacred in the three week onslaught by israel in gaza in two thousand and eight two thousand and nine so really. the wildcard as well raising. them raising their voices across the world but bostonians you thousand and eight and two thousand and nine wherever they are good people of tripoli and for the people of libya. political analyst martin who is in tripoli says nato is the major player in the assault. specifically targeting the areas where international journalists are to be panicked or need or have done all the heavy work this is a nato war make no mistake there is a need a war they heavily bombed cities west of here they bomb all night out even ten seconds to stop the. car spinning needle landed the insurgents on to the coast of tripoli they have no respect for you tradit

in tripoli seven pm where the breaking news is that libyan rebels are inside colonel gadhafi tripoli compound following a fierce fight they now claim to control most of the capital three days after entering the city well these are the latest pictures from the compound and rebels are on the square where colonel gadhafi used to make speeches to the nation exactly where he is and no one seems to know at the moment smoke has been rising over the libyan capital throughout tuesday as a result of pockets of fighting between the two sides casualties are said to be mounting. the electricity in tripoli has been restored after hours of a blackout. while for more insight on the developments in libya let's cross live now to lindsey german she's an activist from the stop of the coalition joining us live in london thanks very much indeed for being with us western leaders have already started planning a post gadhafi libya despite the fact the opposition hasn't won yet but is the rebels potential victory a done deal now do you think i mean justifying the actions of nato. well i think it looks as thou

we will go in the hot spots of tripoli -- in tripoli an and we will reassure the people that things are fine in libya. now we're going to go on a walk about in tripoli and in the places where they said there has been -- they have actually seized from us. then he said, the hell with the oscc. >> a short time later, as the dictator's son was about to leave matthew chance caught up with him one-on-one. >> we broke the backbone of the rebels. so we're winning. and now, let's go, let's go together to the hottest places in tripoli, okay? it's very hot. you want to go? go, take the car, let's go. >> i have to -- >> we have to move. >> okay, bye-bye. >> have to move. we'll check back with matthew chance shortly. he and his crew were basically captive audiences tonight. they are stuck, pinned down, not able to leave the hotel by fighting at a nearby gadhafi compound and gadhafi loyalist gunmen are patrolling the halls inside. the question is what happens next in tripoli and what's happening right now? it's hard to tell. has the opposition been lured into a trap as saif gadhafi claims? this a

the rebel advance into tripoli the outcome of the main a battle remains fluid and he's going to church again has more commentary from washington d.c. . washington a key player in the fight for tripoli says they are in close contact with the rebels leadership and that the u.s. will support a peaceful transition to democracy president obama while on vacation has made this statement this monday in the wake of dramatic developments in tripoli over the weekend that were really far from peaceful again he was talking about what a terrible dictator it could be was what a great job nato has done he called the levy is to support the transitional national council that's a body that's heavily backed by western allies as we know he once again said that billions of dollars in frozen levy in assets will go to the council to help them restore order in the country that's been torn apart by the civil war but before the rebels made made it to the central square in tripoli to celebrate the city's expensive nato bombing it's obvious to everyone that the regime is falling apart with enormous help and their

forces in control of 95% of the capital of tripoli. heavy fighting continues around gaddafi's compound, bab al-azaziyah. his whereabouts are not known. it is unclear if he is in the country. few of his troops put up significant resistance as the rebels entered tripoli. they. to have simply melted away -- appeared to have simply melted away. reports are that rebels are in control of most of the city. gaddafi's opponents celebrated. the rebels incurred heavy losses. the battle is now raging for control of gaddafi's compound, which housed the regime's central command. there has been fighting in other parts of the city. gaddafi's supporters are in desperate positions. >> [unintelligible] that is not safe. >> gaddafi's whereabouts are unknown. pretoria has denied the rumor that he has flown to south africa. gaddafi was last heard from in a radio broadcast on sunday, rallying his supporters to defend to tripoli. the national transitional council hopes that he has not managed to flee the country. >> we want to arrest him alive so he can be gi

so what is the bigger picture now of the battle for tripoli? how much do we know about who controls which parts of the capital? it seems that large and expanding parts of the capital are in rebel hands, although not necessarily entirely secure. these are just some of the areas where gaddafi has lost control since last sunday. but tonight, the big breakthrough for the rebels, of course, the storming of gaddafi's fortified compound. you can see the outer wall breeched by the rebels as they overran this key area, denying the libyan leader one more potential hiding place. in one corner of the compound, a substantial military installation hit by nato missiles weeks ago. and at the center of the compound, the area used for scores of gaddafi rallies over the years where we've seen the rebels pulling down gaddafi's statues. the symbolism of this statue is immense, so taking it is great significance. does this mean game over for gaddafi? no, not quite. after all, he's still at large. and so is his son. the appearance of colonel gaddafi's intended succes

to cross the atlantic president obama said despite the rebel advance into tripoli the outcome of the main battle remains fluid he's going to take on has more now from washington d.c. . washington a key player in the fight for tripoli says they are in close contact with the rebels leadership and that the u.s. will support a peaceful transition to democracy president obama while on vacation has made this statement this monday in the wake of dramatic developments in tripoli over the weekend that were really far from peaceful again he was talking about what a terrible dictator could be was what a great job nato has done because of the levy is to support the transitional national council that's a body that has backed by western allies as we know he once again said that billions of dollars in frozen leave in assets will go to the council to help them restore order in the country that's been torn apart by the civil war but before the rebels made made it to the central square in tripoli to celebrate the city's expensive nato bombing it's obvious to everyone that the regime is falling apart w

perimeter of the hotel in the rest of tripoli. i know you're speaking to sair ra. i've not got any verification of what's going on from our very limited perspective here. we're still very much in the same kind of grim situation, which is where we're in a hotel where the top floor of the hotel, we've corralled ourselves into that top floor while gadhafi loyalists are still very much in control of this hotel and the immediate perimeter around it. beyond that, i can't give you any good indication of what extent gadhafi's forces -- to what extent they have control around this area. but we are very close to colonel gadhafi's compound. obviously we were very close to the fighting that was going on as the rebels wrestled control of that compound from the gadhafi forces. the concern that we have now, anderson, is that we seem to be in one of the few remaining patches of territory in libya which is still controlled by gadhafi's forces. and so we're kind of very anxious about what might happen at this hotel in the hours ahead. >> earlier we

the rebels and the push on tripoli. military personnel are said to be on standby in the mediterranean to boost the effort. and ego e.u. oil giants flocking back to libya on a red carpet laid out by a self-proclaimed new government to reward those who helped to oust gadhafi.

the scene in tripoli remains extremely mixed. you can see local people coming out on the streets to celebrate their new freedom. [horns honking] but we have been told that they will leave the city tonight because it is still not safe enough for them to stay. bbc news, tripoli. >> there are reports that gaddafi's son muhammed has escaped after being arrested by the rebels. we get the latest update and in the town of misrata. >> the rebels remain in control. i think this is something that the rebels always expected, this intense resistance. i do not think they expected to collect the keys of the kingdom from colonel gaddafi's men. but i think there is also a feeling that these pockets of resistance cannot last for very long. ultimately, these fighters will have problems with getting supplies and ammunition. obviously, the international community is working very carefully to see how the rebels handle this transition phase. what are they learning about how they are thinking about this? >> it is a delicate issue not will leave for the

them where to bomb and here in tripoli every time that the rebels conduct threat from the masses the masses in tripoli and the libyan army nato bombs as abraham says anything that moves so really the time may well overdue for a cease fire and for negotiations as i said we've seen one thousand three hundred people killed in the past twelve hours alone this is almost. equal to the number which was massacred in the three week by israel in gaza in two thousand and eight two thousand and nine really the way of the people of the wild as well raising that we sizwe some of them raising their voices across the world for gaza in two thousand and eight and two thousand and nine where are they for the people have tricked me into the people of libya quick question we are hearing reports the islamic about the son has been captured by the rebels we're also hearing reports that could offer himself may have left tripoli proper what are you hearing on the ground what is your sense from being there as to what's happening on that front. festival. that saif al islam was arrested first i believe first of

rationed before the resolution expires from what we hear on the ground in tripoli the rebels and nato forces have met the deadline so despite all the violations as it happens in history the winner takes it all less for who the winners are although the rebels are far from being modern is due to their official leadership and that is the transitional national council is being recognized as a legitimate power by all allies that have been helping the rebels and now don't think that the stumbling point here is that neither the council nor each leader has been chosen by the leading people themselves and many libyans are outraged by the fact that foreign essentially foreign powers have been making those very important choices for them you know when you look at the footage coming from tripoli it very much reminds of. the cheering that we saw in cairo when hosni mubarak was ousted and then the army took over there and the egyptians are still struggling to make their voice heard in many levy and who are afraid that their voices could be ignored by the international community now. and going to ch

the rebels now taking the heart of tripoli. thousands of libyans celebrating and saying that gadhafi is through, but no one knows for sure where gadhafi is right now. >> it's the mystery of the morning. let's bring in a senior fellow at the hoover institution, formerly the director of middle east studies at johns hopkins university and a leading authority on the region. you've always said, if gadhafi falls it's justice. >> look, the libyan be people have been living in prison for four decades and four decades of tyranny is good enough, if you will. whatever they do next, whatever becomes of libya, it will be better than the libya of moammar gadhafi. moammar gadhafi robbed the libyan people of their freedom. it's the richest country in africa with the poore poorest population. it was living in a twilight zone, a zone of moammar gadhafi, only one who spoke, moammar gadhafi the only one who lived, moammar gadhafi the only one who acted and now it's up to the libyans. >> yeah. the largest oil reserves in frick kashgs 95% of the eco

the coastal city of zawiya and the next target, tripoli. on sunday, the advance began and the rebels were surprised at how easily they were able to infiltrate the city. >> the road was completely clear and we were able to get here in no time flat. we're just seeing the outskirts of the town but you can see there are checkpoints. you can see people are screaming "god is great." you can hear the shooting in the air. and we're getting very, very close now to the city center. >> by dusk the first reports of fighting within tripoli. western journalists are held by the government inside the tripoli hotel. >> reporter: seconds or a few minutes we've learned that the security that's been so prevalent around this hotel has all of a sudden decided to leave, essentially, the government minders who are armed with rifles and things like that, have departed the hotel now. and it's pretty empty in the area apart from a few security staff. or a few hotel staff. apart from that it's completely empty. kind of an uncertain time. because obviously, we don't kn

roof this is this is obviously a terribly frightening time for the for the residents of tripoli the people you've spoken to the people you've seen around you there. what are their feelings i guess the terribly afraid. it's mixed feelings you know there's a psychological process we go through the shock there's going to be fear and then there is resistance and many of them children ironically kevin i'm really sorry to say that i've seen young men thinking of going to defend this country you know this is not about colonel gadhafi the world should realize it's not about the fact that because the people on the other stright been saying going you know far worse than colonel gadhafi a lot of our cities committed in libya when when they were government members by the way can the united nations in geneva when the accusations were meeting about the murders in the east here the libyan human rights league there directly directly involved in life if you documented the documents will be out and could be directly lied and by a member of the transitional council were part of the libyan human rights

nearby, to the tripoli airport. arwa damon is there. our team is on the ground hearing this. they're seeing the smoke. we're going to try to get arwa damon on the phone to talk more about what's happening now at the airport, but several rockets landing there. >> there's gunfire at the rixos hotel. >> that's right. >> there is gunfire and mortar shells at the gadhafi compound. >> that's right. >> and now shelling -- >> rockets landing -- >> if it's a last stand this is what's going to happen. there are pockets of resistance. we'll speak? in a while little from somebody from the transitional authority, the rebel group, the opposition, if they have 85% of the city, there's still 15% they don't have. >> hopefully it will be over soon. >>> coming up, the bahamas bracing for irene's impact. the storm packing winds of 100 miles per hour. a live report out of nassau next. >> a scare involving nancy reagan. we'll show you what happened. it's 42 minutes after the hour. have i got a surprise for you! a mouthwatering combinatio

are winning the battle for tripoli. as fighting continues, president obama praises the libyan people for their extraordinary sacrifice. >> this much is clear. the gaddafi regime is coming to an end, and the future of libya is in the hands of its people. >> prosecutors in new york ask a judge to drop sexual assault charges against the former head of the i.m.f. dominique strauss kahn. renewed tension on the korean peninsula is a project aimed at bringing north and south together comes to a bitter end. it is 9:00 a.m. here in singapore. >> it's 2:00 a.m. here in london, broadcasting to viewers on pbs in america and around the world. welcome to "newsnight." -- "newsday." >> one of colonel gaddafi's sons, has been arrested, and has appeared in the center of the libyan capital in a government military vehicle. he told the bbc that a trap had been laid for opposition forces and that soldiers loyal to his father are winning the battle for tripoli. dominic cain has the latest developments on this breaking story. >> the son of co

he is the minister of information for the opposition, the rebel group in tripoli. i found most fascinating thing he told me they were not expecting tripoli to come down this fast. >> they need a few days to establish a security council to control tripoli and you've been hearing our matthew chance hung hunkered down. >> according to him. we don't know that for sure. >> precisely. >> for sure, it's an unsure situation. you remember tripoli is 2 million people so it's a big city. it's realistic to believe it's not falling in a day. >> we will be right back. naomi pryce: i am. i'm in the name your own price division. i find empty hotel rooms and help people save - >> - up to 60% off. i am familiar. your name? > naomi pryce. >> what other "negotiating" skills do you have? > i'm a fifth-degree black belt. >> as am i. > i'm fluent in 37 languages. >> (indistinct clicking) > and i'm a master of disguise >> as am i. > as am i. >> as am i. > as am i. >> well played naomi pryce. that's how it is with alzheimer's disease. she needs help from me. and her medication. . the exelo

all the houses are shut down in zawiya and they shut down in tripoli now the rebels think they've got to go after his compound but last night i had lost lights bustle round one went to gadhafi because they said they had mohammed gadhafi and cycle islam hey presto cycle as long as smiling driving around tripoli he so a house like last night tonight is another trap for the rebels in the compound that good thought his forces are allowing all these dozens and scores of rebels into the compound and let's see what happens to like and you know it may be another big crowd for the rebels in tripoli two weeks ago it's been confirmed it was the british are you concerned about conducted at moscow eighty five civilians including thirty five children nothing to do with protecting civilians everything to do with dominating few libya but what's been clear in the last few days and it's been admitted by the daily telegraph that yesterday what's planned all along a week by the nato forces so yes they want to wrap up libya wrap it up nicely presented as a as a successful test case to then roll on syria s

every time that the rebels the threat from the masses the masses in tripoli and the libyan army nato bombs as. him says anything that moves so really tiny well overdue for a cease fire and for negotiations as i said we've seen one thousand three hundred people killed in the past twelve hours alone is almost. equal to the number which was massive in the three week by israel in gaza in two thousand and eight thousand and ninety so really. the wildcard is about raising that. raising their voices across the world because they're in two thousand and eight and two thousand and nine where are they people are people of libya could question we are hearing reports that the islamic party son has been captured by the rebels we're also hearing reports that himself may have left tripoli proper what are you hearing on the ground what is your sense from being there as to what's happening on that front well first of all. was arrested first i believe first of all that came from al jazeera which of course has been at the center of the media conspiracy against me and they claims that saif al islam which

are in the control of tripoli but it was not by surprise the surprise of all the foreign. by far is i'm sorry at the hotel. with. convoy i gave an interview he did and he also took some of that done with him for a drive to fifty where they were taken to the area some of them say they saw thousands of people in this area and suppose that the libyan government. but it is a people from tribes across the country have come into the capital to support the struggle here against the rebel side and is very much relaxed in high spirits he says that the libyan government and by that he is winning against the rebels and then we also have the news that mohammed gadhafi has brought on the gadhafi that the son who was reported to have been captured has been released by he's got a brother thomas gadhafi and he apparently gave a speech to be in television so of course these events just completely plan that that's a section of the wild about what's happening here in the capital on its head. a log on to our t.v. dot com for more eyewitness accounts from tripoli. the big story they went throu

the rebels in their push on tripoli. eager oil giants flock back to libya on the red carpet laid out by the self-proclaimed new government keen to reward those who helped us get. international news and comment live from moscow it's just past ten pm here in the russian capital and in tripoli eight pm where the breaking news is that libyan rebels inside colonel gadhafi tripoli compound following a fierce fight they now claim to control most of the capital three days after entering the city these are the latest pictures from the compound rebels around the square where colonel gadhafi used to make speeches to the nation exactly where he is no one seems to know smoke has been rising over the libyan capital throughout the day as a result of pockets of fighting between the two sides casualties are said to be mounting electricity in tripoli has now been restored after hours of a blackout for lindsay german a london based activist from the stop the war coalition talked to me a little earlier today and she believes the only thing

all the shops all the houses are shut down in zawiya and they're shut down in tripoli now the rebels think they've got the gawkers compound but lost last night's battle round one went to gadhafi because they felt they had mohammed gadhafi and cycle islam a press those type of islamic smiling driving around tripoli so perhaps like last night tonight is another trap for the rebels in the compound that doctors forces are allowing all these dozens and scores of rebels into the compound and let's see what happens the like and you know it may be another big trap for the rebels in tripoli human rights organizations say that libyan civilians must be protected during this time of conflict now you have been there you've just returned very recently is that really possible to do that when the situation is so confused now. this and that this has been a rank hypocrisy on the part of all those countries some of the countries were called in to support the no fly zone and the so-called you know protecting civilians but since since day one of the bombing of the nato operation they have been massacring

of the hotel and the regs of tripoli. i know you're speaking to sara. i don't have any verification from the limited perspective here. we're still very much in the same kind of grim situation, which is that we're in a hotel where the top floor of the hotel. we've corralled ourselves. gadhafi loyalists are still very much in control of this hotel and the immediate perimeter around it. beyond that, i can't give you any good indication of what -- to what extent they have control. we are very close. colonel gadhafi's compound. we were very close to the fighting going on as rebels, controlled the compound from the gadhafi forces. the concern now is that we seem to be more of the remaining of tree, which is still controlled by gadhafi's forces. we're very anxious about what might happen at this hotel in the hours a he. >> earlier, you said the mood was grim. you basically were in this room, in body armor. do you have communication with the libyan forces inside the hotel not allowing you to leave? >> well, i mean, i don't know w

in the center of tripoli. that is the situation i see it at the moment from our very limited vantage point. we are not hearing, at the moment, any nato jets in the skies over tripoli. we are hearing explosions and what we are assuming those explosions are are artillery shells being exchanged between the two sides in this area of the gadhafi compound. but what we are not hearing the kind of heavy air strikes that we witnessed in this city in this area of tripoli over the past several weeks and particularly in the past several days. and not hearing aircraft in the skies over this area that is in the hands of gadhafi forces. so it's difficult for me to, you know, admittedly, it's difficult for me to, you know, give a very comprehensive assessment of what the military situation is like outside because, at the moment, i'm lying on my belly in a hotel room, hoping we don't get hit by a shell. >> well, in just a couple of miles to the east of matthew's hotel, fresh fighting, we are being told, near tripoli's internat

where to bomb and here in tripoli every time that the rebels conduct threat from the masses the masses in tripoli and the libyan army nato bombs as abraham says anything that moves so really the time may well overdue for a cease fire and for negotiations that we've seen thousand three hundred people killed in the past twelve hours alone is almost equal to. which was massacred in the three week unsettled by israel in gaza in two thousand and eight two thousand and nine really where the wave of the wild as well raising their voices we saw of them raising their voices across the world for gaza in two thousand and eight and two thousand and nine where are they for the people of tripoli and for the people of libya. political analyst madeon of them royal who is in tripoli says nato is a major player in the assault they specifically targeting the areas where international journalists are to feed their need or has done all the heavy work this is a nato war make no mistake this is a nato war they heavily bombed cities west of here they bombed all night without even ten seconds of stopping they

>> i am on one of the rebel soldier's pickup trucks in tripoli. the rest of the convoy every where we have gone people have been pouring out onto the treat celebrating. most of the time you can't hear yourself think. i am only wearing this helmet and bulletproof vest not because i feel i am in danger but there are so many bullets being fired into the air this celebration volley of shots. i don't want one bouncing off me. that's the only reason i am wearing it. i feel absolutely safe. the rebels have come into the capital (inaudible). each of these vehicles are surrounded by -- i don't know if you can see on the cameras. (inaudible) they are coming out in celebration and what they believe is the liberation of the capital. it likes everyone to be very still, the camera. glorious feeling people have in the city tonight. they feel liberated. that is water being thrown. they do that in celebration as well. there are fireworks and guns going off. absolutely amazing sight. >> that was alex crawford of sister network sky news live in tripoli. the scene sh

and it's the week of decisive breakthrough arrived in libya's civil war when tripoli was the scene of a major battle between the rebels and forces fighting for longtime leader colonel gadhafi the opposition claims that now controls most of the capital while resistance continues among khadafi loyalists in some parts of the country let's get more from our notion of who is in the libyan capital live now. thanks for joining us at this moment time we're hearing about concerns for the humanitarian situation in tripoli or any signs of it getting better at this moment. well as the rebels report that's they're now control than most of the libyan capital it seems that there are facing the battle of another kind of a humanitarian one the situation here on the ground is very complicated very difficult and this is very close to humanitarian catastrophe because the city is now facing severe shortages of running water electricity castle and medicine even in the hotel where we are staying and where most of the foreign journalists to stay we have serious problems with that. people use public taps thro

said despite the rebel advance into tripoli the outcome of the main battle remains fluid and he's going to try to count has more from washington d.c. . washington a key player in the fight for tripoli says they are in close contact with the rebels leadership and that the u.s. will support a peaceful transition to democracy president obama while on vacation has made this statement this monday in the wake of dramatic developments in tripoli over the weekend that were really far from peaceful again he was talking about what a terrible dictator could outfit was what a great job nato has done he called for the levy is to support the transitional national council that's a body that's heavily backed by western allies as we know he once again said that billions of dollars in frozen leave in assets will go to the council to help them restore order in the country that's been torn apart by the civil war but before the rebels made made it to the central square in tripoli to celebrate the city's expensive nato bombing it's obvious to everyone that the regime is falling apart with enormous help and t