'End is near' for Kadhafi: Britain
AFP
LONDON- Britain on Sunday said "the end was near" for Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi as rebel fighters launched a final push for victory with an attack on the capital Tripoli.
"It is clear from the scenes we are witnessing in Tripoli that the end is near for Kadhafi," said a statement from Prime Minister David Cameron's Downing Street office.
"He has committed appalling crimes against the people of Libya and he must go now to avoid any further suffering for his own people," added the statement.
Libyan rebels Sunday fought their way into Tripoli, where music played in the streets as residents celebrated, but Kadhafi has refused to surrender even as NATO said his regime is crumbling.
Kadhafi's son Seif al-Islam was also captured on Sunday, rebel leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil said.
Britain is at the forefront of an international bombing campaign over Libya, enforcing a United Nations resolution to protect civilians from Kadhafi's forces.
Britons and other foreign nationals were due to be evacuated from Tripoli on a boat to Malta on Sunday, the Foreign Office said.
The boat sent by the Maltese government was due to leave Sunday morning, bound for Valletta, a Foreign Office spokeswoman in London told AFP, although she could not confirm it had left.
About eight or nine British nationals were allocated places and other nationalities were also on board, she said.
"We are aware of foreign nationals being there, including some British nationals who are leaving this morning," said Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt in an interview with the BBC.
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Libyan rebels Sunday fought their way into Tripoli, where music played in the streets as residents celebrated, but Kadhafi has refused to surrender even as NATO said his regime is crumbling.
Kadhafi's son Seif al-Islam was also captured on Sunday, rebel leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil said.
Britain is at the forefront of an international bombing campaign over Libya, enforcing a United Nations resolution to protect civilians from Kadhafi's forces.
Britons and other foreign nationals were due to be evacuated from Tripoli on a boat to Malta on Sunday, the Foreign Office said.
The boat sent by the Maltese government was due to leave Sunday morning, bound for Valletta, a Foreign Office spokeswoman in London told AFP, although she could not confirm it had left.
About eight or nine British nationals were allocated places and other nationalities were also on board, she said.
"We are aware of foreign nationals being there, including some British nationals who are leaving this morning," said Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt in an interview with the BBC.
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