Libyan rebels press toward Gaddafi's hometown

Rebel forces are advancing toward Muammar Gaddafi's hometown despite the extension of a deadline for the town's surrender, rebel officials said today, as a UN official warned that Libya faces critical but short-term shortages of drinking water, food and other supplies.

While fighting has subsided in much of Libya, including the capital, Tripoli, the six-month civil war between rebels and Gaddafi's forces disrupted supply lines and damaged infrastructure across the country, leaving many people in need of help.

In just the past few days, more than a half-dozen UN agencies have returned to Tripoli, said the UN humanitarian coordinator for Libya, Panos Moumtzis.

The UN has brought in 11 million bottles of water and will bring in 600 tons of food and USD 140 million worth of medicine. But he also said the UN help is expected to be temporary.

"This country has a lot of resources and we view the humanitarian needs as short-term," he said of the oil-rich nation of 6 million people. "I don't foresee the humanitarian programme going beyond the end of the year, maximum."

While rebel forces have seized most of the country, they have yet to capture Gaddafi or members of his family. Meanwhile, their forces have been advancing on the few remaining loyalist bastions, including the former dictator's hometown of Sirte.

Rebel council spokesman Abdel-Hafiz Ghoga said that despite the extension of a surrender deadline the rebels had originally demanded that Sirte surrender by Saturday, but later gave the loyalists until Sept 10, rebel forces have not stopped advancing.

Rebel brigades have pushed to the town of Wadi Hawarah, around 50 kilometres from Sirte, he said.