Gadhafi near collapse with capture of son, surrender of guard - World Wires

CAIRO -- Libyan President Muammar Gadhafi's regime appeared near collapse Sunday with the reported capture of his son and the surrender of his personal guard to rebel forces, Libyan officials and NATO said.

With NATO bombings paving the way, rebel forces swiftly closed in on Tripoli and by late Sunday controlled much of the capital. Live television showed crowds of opposition fighters in Tripoli unfurling the rebel tricolor flag and smashing Gadhafi portraits. Young men stomped on a large tapestry of the leader as they flashed victory signs.

Gadhafi made a brief audio statement on Libyan TV, sounding desperate as he called on individual tribes and cities to rise up and defend Tripoli. He pleaded with Libyans to "take weapons" and prevent the destruction of "beautiful Tripoli."

"All the tribes, you must all march to Tripoli in order to purify and cleanse it otherwise you will have no dignity, you will be slaves, servants of the occupier. Servants forever."

Thousands of Libyans celebrated in the rebels' eastern capital of Benghazi, cheering and dancing as the news broke that Gadhafi's son and onetime heir apparent Seif al-Islam was in rebel custody. The rebels' National Transitional Council confirmed his capture, according to news reports.

In Benghazi, heavy artillery rained on the city as Transitional National Council leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil announced the capture of Seif al-Islam son just before midnight local time. Indeed, the sounds of ammunition drowned out the cheers of residents gathered along main streets and in their neighborhoods.

For some, the capture of A powerful son was more important than the whereabouts of the aging leader himself. Ffor many, the revolution was as much about the prospects of the son taking over as it was about ending Gadhafi's 42-year rule.

U.S. officials, however, could not confirm the arrest or Gadhafi's whereabouts, conceding they do not have good intelligence in Tripolie. On Sunday, the State Department issued an advisory confirming the rebels were on the outskirts of Tripoli just as Jalil appeared on television.

If the regime indeed fails, Jalil will become Libya's new leader until elections, which he has promised will happen in the next few months.

via miamiherald.com