Muammar Gaddafi

In a less complex world, the death of Libyan strongman and dictator Muammar Gaddafi would be cause for optimism and relief. But the violent end of one of modern history's great tyrants leaves in its wake an open-ended future for his country.

Libyan revolutionary forces fought building by building on Wednesday against the final pocket of resistance in Muammar Gaddafi's hometown - the last major city in Libya to have been under the control of forces loyal to the fugitive leader.

Libyan government forces have captured landmark buildings in a thrust towards the centre of Muammar Gaddafi's hometown Sirte, but came under a fierce counter attack which inflicted dozens of casualties.

Muammar Gaddafi has called on Libyans to take to the streets and wage a campaign of civil disobedience against the country's new leaders - the first word from the fugitive leader in just over two weeks.

A Libyan commander leading the attack on Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte said on Tuesday he was in talks with elders inside the city about a truce, but the head of another anti-Gaddafi unit rejected negotiations.

Libyan provisional government forces backed by NATO warplanes raced through the eastern outskirts of Sirte on Monday, closing in on Muammar Gaddafi loyalists holed up in one of the last two bastions of the deposed leader.

Libyan interim government forces fled on Sunday in a chaotic retreat from the town of Bani Walid, after failing in yet another attempt to storm the final bastions of loyalists of ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya's new rulers said their fighters were holding back an assault on one of the last bastions loyal to Muammar Gaddafi after fighting their way into the town and finding civilians in peril.

The voice of Muammar Gaddafi boomed out from his hiding place on Thursday, denying he had fled Libya and cursing as rats and stray dogs those whose efforts to start governing in his place are being frustrated by his die-hard followers.

Libyan forces have massed outside a pro-Gaddafi desert town that has refused to surrender, building a field hospital in preparation for a possible last stand.

Libyan forces have failed to convince Muammar Gaddafi loyalists to give up one of their last strongholds without a fight, raising the prospect of an assault on the town of Bani Walid.

Leaders of the Libyan uprising that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi sit down with world powers in Paris on Thursday to map out the country's rebuilding, 42 years to the day after the former strongman seized power in a coup.

Muammar Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, has promised continued resistance to Libyan forces which ousted his father from Tripoli, and urged Libyans to wage a war of attrition against the National Transitional Council and its NATO backers.

Libya's interim leader has given forces loyal to deposed ruler Muammar Gaddafi a four-day deadline to surrender towns they still control or face a bloody end to a war that the new leadership said has so far killed 50,000 people.

Libyan rebels raced into Tripoli and met little resistance as Muammar Gaddafi's defenders melted away and his 42-year rule rapidly crumbled. The euphoric fighters celebrated with residents of the capital in Green Square, the symbolic heart of the fading regime.

NATO warplanes have bombed Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte as forces opposed to the fallen strongman close in on his last major bastion of support.