Hundreds of people gathered in the western city of Surman, Libya, on Friday to celebrate the rebels’ control of the western road to the capital, Tripoli.
They massed at the municipal building on the road to Zawiyah, a town that was the scene of heavy clashes on the same day.
Meanwhile, celebratory gunfire rang out in the northwestern city of Gharyan, south of Tripoli.
The crowd there defiantly chanted anti-Qaddafi slogans, and rebels said they had three days earlier routed the remaining snipers and military forces from the area.
“Now, we are free, we are very, very happy. (AUDIO OF CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE) Sorry. We are very happy in Garyan because now Gaddafi is out from Gharyan,” said a resident of Gharyan.
Rebels also managed to secure the city of Sabratha, west of the capital, recently.
Since the uprising in Libya began, in mid-February, rebels have attempting to force Moammer Qaddafi from power; NATO forces began deploying air strikes in the country in late March.
Speaker: A resident of Gharyan
By: Noora Al Faraj, Al Arabiya with Agencies
Source: AlArabiya
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