Libyan capital sees first big firefight in months

Associated Press

TRIPOLI, Libya

The Libyan capital saw its first major gunbattle since Moammar Gadhafi fled Tripoli more than two months ago, as his supporters traded fire with revolutionary forces Friday after a crowd raised the ousted regime’s green flag.

Fearing more attacks, revolutionary forces set up checkpoints manned by young, armed men across the metropolis of some 2 million people, snarling traffic. They also rounded up several suspected African mercenaries, pulling them from cars and houses.

The violence in Tripoli and fierce resistance on two other fronts set back the new rulers’ stated goals of declaring total victory and establishing democracy as Gadhafi, the ruler for nearly 42 years, remains on the run.

The capital has been relatively calm since then- rebels swept into the city in late August. But Gadhafi’s loyalists have control of parts of his hometown of Sirte and the desert enclave of Bani Walid and have staved off NATO-backed revolutionary forces besieging them for weeks, perhaps encouraged by several audio recordings issued by Gadhafi from hiding.

The firefight in Tripoli began after Friday prayers.