Forces loyal Libya’s transitional government has launched a major assault on the city of Sirte, one of the last Gaddafi strongholds.

A good number of vehicles have advanced on the city from both the east and the West and close to the centre.

Crowds civilians have already left Sirte but many more are thought to have remained behind.

The interim authority’s troops are coming from Misrata in the west and Benghazi in the east.

The ousted leader’s whereabouts are not yet known.