Libyan National Transitional Council forces fight street by street for control of Muammar Gaddafi's hometown, Sirte.<br/> Pro-NTC soldiers have been battling for the town on three fronts, the west, the south and the east entrances.<br/> But they have been advancing slowly.<br/> East of Sirte, NTC fighters celebrated the capture of the town of Herawa.<br/> Their feelings about the toppled leader clear.<br/> Later, a mosque where they had set up a base came under heavy fire.<br/> Ambulances sped from the front line to a field hospital were doctors could treat the wounded.<br/> About 2 km west of the centre of Sirte, pro and anti-Gaddafi forces exchanged fire.<br/> As dusk fell, NTC forces pulled back.<br/> One fighter explained why.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ANTI-GADDAFI FIGHTER, KHALIFAH AHMED, SAYING:<br/> "This pulling out is a tactic to give space to the families to go out safely. And the situation is fine. Half of the city is controlled by the rebels."<br/> With Gaddafi still at large and fighting raging in the seven-month war, Libya's interim council cannot declare the nation "liberated" and begin the process of holding elections.<br/> Marie-Claire Fennessy, Reuters
