Libya's interim government says its forces have broken through Gadhafi loyalist defenses and entered the coastal city of Sirte, one of the former leader's remaining bases of support.
Officials for the National Transitional Council said late Thursday several thousand of their fighters from Misrata advanced into the center of former leader Moammar Gadhafi's hometown, where they faced heavy resistance from elite loyalist troops and snipers.
NTC military officials told The Associated Press that four of their fighters had been killed and seven others wounded.
Earlier Thursday, jubilant crowds welcomed British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi.
The two leaders said they would introduce a United Nations Security Council draft resolution Friday that would establish a U.N. mission in Libya, unfreeze Libyan assets, remove the no-fly zone for civilian flights and abolish the international arms embargo.
They also said they would assist Libya's new government to extend its authority throughout the country and track down Mr. Gadhafi and members of his inner circle.
In addition, they promised that the NATO military campaign would continue for as long as it is needed.
In Tripoli, Mr. Cameron called on the fugitive leader and his followers to “give up.” Mr. Sarkozy added that he would urge authorities in neighboring Niger, a former French colony, to detain Mr. Gadhafi's associates who entered the country in recent days.
The visiting leaders held talks in Tripoli with National Transitional Council Chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil, who said the NTC will reward key allies for their help in ending Mr. Gadhafi's rule as it decides future oil and gas contracts.
Britain and France pushed for NATO action to protect civilians against forces loyal to Mr. Gadhafi, and the French were the first to recognize the NTC as the official representative of the Libyan people.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also scheduled to visit Libya this week as part of a North African tour.
