Libyan has 'no control' on Bani Walid: Defense minister

Pro-government forces fire off the back of a truck some three kilometers 

from the northern entrance to the Bani Walid, Libya,on Oct 21, 2012.

Libya's defense minister says the country’s army has no
control over the northwestern city of Bani Walid, considered as the
last bastion for the supporters of slain ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

"The chief of staff has no control over the town and therefore armed men are 
able to prevent families from coming back," Osama al-Jueili, the Libyan 
minister of defense said on Monday. 

Al-Jueili said that the “gunmen” also held a checkpoint leading to the city, 
located 170 kilometers southeast of the capital city of Tripoli.

The minister added that the clashes in the city have forced tens of thousands 
of residents to leave their houses. Some 30,000 people went to the town of 
Tarhuna and 10,000 others went to Tripoli, he said. 

"The town is completely empty except for a small number of people

who are living in tragic conditions; there is no activity; the impact

of shelling is visible everywhere," al-Jueili noted.

Bani Walid has been the scene of deadly clashes between pro-government 
forces and fighters loyal to the former regime in the past weeks. The recent 
battles claimed the lives of dozens of people and injured hundreds more. 

On October 24, a Libyan commander said that the pro-government forces 
recaptured Bani Walid, which had been under siege for about 20 days. 

“Bani Walid is free. There are no more Gaddafi militias inside. Now we control 
the city and we will stay to ensure safety,” said Fathi Shahoud, a commander of 
the Libya Shield. 

Libyans rose up against Gaddafi in February 2011 and deposed him in 
August 2011. 

SAB/JR/HJL of PressTV