Qaddafi's Stalingrad: The coming battle of Sirte

Its wide-avenues and reinforced concrete towers allow easy manoeuvrability and ample shelter against coalition air forces.

The rebel forces in ‘technicals’ – pickup trucks with heavy weaponry on the back – will be vulnerable to Gaddafi’s dug-in fire power…

“When the people of the east fled in the face of violence they went to Benghazi, capital of the dissidents, but the people of Sirte held firm because it was Gaddafi’s hold out place,” a Libyan official said.

Even the rebels, acknowledged the difficulties of taking Sirte.

“Sirte is the key to Tripoli and it will be a big and difficult battle to seize it,” said Ahmed al-Muqassabi, a defector.