TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Exuberant Libyan rebels tore up anything bearing Muammar Gaddafi’s image in Tripoli on Monday and their commanders scrambled to focus them on the task at hand — advancing methodically through sniper-infested streets into the city center.

At the state oil shipping firm in Tripoli’s Gargaresh district, no one but the doorman seated behind the reception desk showed up for work. And rebel fighters were tramping in and defacing anything they could find with Gaddafi’s face on it.

TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libyan government tanks and snipers put up scattered, last-ditch resistance in Tripoli on Monday after rebels swept into the heart of the capital, cheered on by crowds hailing the end of Muammar Gaddafi’s 42 years in power.

The 69-year-old leader, urging civilians to take up arms against rebel “rats,” said in an audio broadcast that he was in the city and would be “with you until the end.” But there was little sign of popular opposition to the rebel offensive, two of Gaddafi’s sons were seized and it was unclear where he was.

AL-MAYA, Libya (Reuters) – Rebel fighters were already jubilant as they streamed through this village Sunday towards what they seemed sure was the final battle to topple Muammar Gaddafi.

“Now we go to Tripoli to get him,” said a fighter driving with five others in a pickup loaded with guns.

AL-MAYA, Libya (Reuters) – Libyan rebels battled their way closer to Tripoli on Sunday to help fighters inside the city who rose up overnight declaring a final showdown with Muammar Gaddafi.

The Libyan leader dismissed the rebels as “rats” and said he would not yield. But his grip on power looked more fragile than ever after rebels, fighting for the past six months to end his rule, advanced to within about 25 km (16 miles) of Tripoli’s western edge.

JADDAIM, Libya (Reuters) – Libyan rebels battled their way toward Tripoli Sunday to help fighters inside the city who rose up overnight declaring a final showdown with Muammar Gaddafi.

The Libyan leader dismissed the rebels, fighting since February to topple him, as “rats” and said he would not yield.

OUTSIDE ZAWIYAH, Libya (Reuters) – Libyan rebels sought to ease fuel shortages in their newly won territory west of the capital Tripoli on Saturday, releasing stockpiles from a refinery they seized from Muammar Gaddafi’s forces three days ago.

Heavy fighting for Zawiyah, a strategic city on the coastal highway 50 km (30 miles) west of Tripoli, cut off regular deliveries for several days but truckloads of fuel have now arrived at petrol stations around the area.

ZAWIYAH, Libya (Reuters) – Rebel fighters transformed Libya’s battlefield this week by seizing Zawiyah on the outskirts of Tripoli but, with shells still raining down on the city, few believe the fighting is over.

The rebel presence in Zawiyah cuts off Tripoli’s main route to the outside world. Although Gaddafi’s forces, determined to retake it, mounted a fierce counter-offensive Friday, the rebels were still in control Saturday and saying they expected more fighting.

TUNIS/ZAWIYAH, Libya, Aug 20 (Reuters) – Rebels battled for
towns on either side of the besieged Libyan capital Tripoli on
Saturday, and fighting spilled across the border into Tunisia,
where Libyan infiltrators clashed with Tunisian troops.

Tunisian security sources said their forces had intercepted
Libyan men in vehicles with weapons and fought them through the
night in the desert. They reported several casualties.

ZAWIYAH, Libya (Reuters) – Rebels are fighting battles in coastal cities on either side of the besieged Libyan capital Tripoli in a drive to topple Muammar Gaddafi after six months of war.

Mortar and rocket rounds crashed on Saturday into the centre of Zawiyah, a city on the coastal highway 50 km (30 miles) west of Tripoli that the rebels captured this week in one of the boldest advances of their uprising.

ZINTAN, Libya (Reuters) – Libyan rebels fought fierce battles in two coastal cities on either side of Tripoli in a drive to topple Muammar Gaddafi, and also claimed the Libyan leader’s former No. 2 had defected.

Sustained blasts from rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and anti-aircraft guns rang out on Friday in the center of Zawiyah, a city on the coastal highway 50 km (30 miles) west of Tripoli that the rebels entered this week, in a clash that killed at least two.