Libyan Regime Collapses

Libyan rebels have captured two of Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi’s sons, and his presidential guard has surrendered, said the rebel National Transitional Council.

Gadhafi’s eldest son, Mohammed al-Gadhafi, has surrendered to Libyan rebel forces, rebel National Transitional Council Coordinator Adel Dabbechi told Reuters. He also confirmed that Gadhafi’s better-known younger son, Saif Al-Islam, had been captured. International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo later confirmed the report that Saif al-Islam had been detained.

“We have confirmed information that our guys have captured Saif al-Islam,” the head of the NTC, Mustapha Abd El Jalil, told Al Jazeera television earlier. “We have given instructions to treat him well so that he can face trial.”

Mohammad al-Gadhafi, told Al Jazeera television in the early hours of Monday that he had been detained by rebels and was being kept under house arrest in Tripoli.

“Gunmen surrounded my house and I am still at home and they are outside,” he said by telephone from Tripoli.

“They said they will guarantee my safety. They are besieging my house,” he added. The sound of gunfire could be heard in the background. “Yes, the gunfire is inside my house,” he said before the line was suddenly cut off.

An Al Arabiya report, citing the NTC, said Gadhafi’s presidential guard has surrendered and Al Jazeera television reported that troops responsible for the veteran leader’s security had laid down their arms.

Rebel fighters streamed into Tripoli Sunday in a fight they seemed sure was the final battle to topple Gadhafi, as the Libyan leader’s forces collapsed and crowds took to the streets to celebrate, tearing down posters of the colorful and often brutal autocrat who has ruled Libya for over 40 years.

A convoy of rebels entered a western neighborhood of the city, firing their weapons into the air. Rebels said the whole of the city was under their control except Gaddafi’s Bab Al-Aziziya-Jazeera stronghold, according to al-Jazeera Television.

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

The fighters, arriving from the rebel-stronghold of Misrata, joined opposition forces engaged in a fierce gun battle with forces loyal to Gadhafi inside the Mitiga airbase in Tripoli’s Tajoura district, a pro-rebel activist told Reuters.

A Libyan government official said on Sunday that 1,300 Libyans were killed on Sunday, while on Saturday night a total of 376 were killed on both sides and over 1,000 were injured in fighting.

Spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said Gadhafi’s government is ready for immediate negotiations with rebels, and has asked NATO to convince the rebel forces to halt the attack on Tripoli.

Speaking on state television, Ibrahim said Gadhafi was prepared to negotiate directly with the head of the NTC.

The head of the NTC said on Al Arabiya television that the rebel fighters will halt their offensive if Gadhafi announces his departure.

Mustapha Abd El Jalil added that the rebel forces would give Gadhafi and his sons a safe passage out of the country.

Gadhafi made two appeals Sunday evening for his people to “save Tripoli” from a rebel offensive, in an audio message played on state television.

“It is the obligation of all Libyans. It is a question of life or death,” he said in his second appeal. Gadhafi made a similar appeal earlier in the evening on state television, as rebels streamed into the capital. “I am afraid if we don’t act, they will burn Tripoli,” he said. “There will be no more water, food, electricity or freedom.”

Al Arabiya television aired images of Libyans celebrating in central Tripoli and tearing down Gadhafi posters, the first images from the city since rebels entered from the west earlier in the day.

NATO called the situation in Libya “very fluid” as rebel fighters streamed into Tripoli, and said Gadhafi’s rule was “crumbling”.

“It’s a very fluid situation. We can see that the regime is crumbling, and the sooner Gaddafi realises he cannot win this war against his own people, the better,” NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said.

“He’s the one who’s responsible for starting the conflict and he should spare his people further bloodshed,” she added.

After a six-month civil war, the fall of Tripoli came quickly, with a carefully orchestrated uprising launched on Saturday night to coincide with the advance of rebel troops on three fronts. Fighting broke out after the call to prayer from the minarets of the mosques.