Libyan Rebels 30 Km from Sirte

A top Libyan rebel commander said on Sunday insurgent forces were 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of Moammar Gadhafi's hometown bastion of Sirte and 100 kilometers away in the east after seizing Bin Jawad.

"We took Bin Jawad today (Sunday)" on the eastern front, and "the rebel fighters from Misrata are 30 kilometers from Sirte" in the west, Mohammed al-Fortiya, the rebel commander in Misrata, told AFP.

Sirte, the fallen strongman's last stronghold, is now in a noose being tightened from both east and west. The city 360 kilometers east of the capital could be where Gadhafi and his family have gone to ground.

On Saturday rebel forces had been at a virtual standstill after being blocked for four days by pro-Gadhafi forces just outside Bin Jawad, 140 kilometers east of Sirte.

Fortiya confirmed reports that talks were under way with tribal leaders in Sirte for the city's surrender.

"We are negotiating with the tribes for Sirte's peaceful surrender," he said, adding that only tribal leaders were involved, and that to his knowledge no direct contact had been established with Gadhafi himself or those close to him.