TRIPOLI, Libya - NATO has no immediate plans to end its military operations in Libya, where rebel forces and Muammar Qaddafi's loyalists are negotiating the fate of the ousted strongman's hometown and last major bastion of support, the coalition announced Tuesday.
Col. Roland Lavoie says NATO would continue supporting the rebels as long as civilians in the country are under threat, although the area around the capital, Tripoli, is now "essentially free." He said the two sides were engaged in "discussions" about Sirte, a heavily militarized city some 250 miles east of Tripoli.
Sirte is is heavily militarized and shows no signs yet of surrendering. Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the head of the National Transitional Council, said that negotiations with forces in Sirte would end Saturday after the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, when the rebels would "act decisively and militarily."
We can't wait more than that," he told reporters in the eastern city of Benghazi. "We seek and support any efforts to enter these places peacefully. At the end, it might be decided militarily. I hope it will not be the case."
Lavoie said he would not discount the possibility that control of Sirte could change from Qaddafi to anti-Qaddafi control peacefully.
"We have seen dialogues in several villages that were freed ? I'm not saying with no hostilities, but with minimal hostilities," he said.
The rebels also demanded that Algeria return Qaddafi's wife and three of his children for trial after they fled, raising tensions between the neighboring countries.
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The departure of Qaddafi's family was one of the strongest signs yet that the longtime leader has lost his grip on the country. Algeria's decision to host members of the Qaddafi clan is an "aggressive act against the Libyan people's wish," said Mahmoud Shammam, information minister in the rebels' interim government.
Safiya Qaddafi, her daughter Aisha and sons Hannibal and Mohammed entered Algeria on Monday, while Qaddafi and several other sons remain at large. In Washington, the Obama administration said it had no indication that Qaddafi himself has left the country.
A rebel commander who served as a member of Qaddafi's security team for 20 years told CBS News correspondent Barry Petersen he believes the longtime dictator is still in the capital.
"Knowing how crazy he is and knowing he owns so many houses, I'm sure he's still in Tripoli," he said.
Algeria's Health Ministry said that Aisha Qaddafi gave birth to a girl on Tuesday. The official provided no other information, including on where she gave birth. The official was not authorized to be publicly named according to ministry rules.
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Algerian news reports had said Aisha's pending childbirth was one reason for Algeria's decision to take the family in.
Rebels also said another Qaddafi son, Khamis, was likely killed last week in a battle south of Tripoli.
"We are determined to arrest and try the whole Qaddafi family, including Qaddafi himself," Shammam said late Monday night. "We'd like to see those people coming back to Libya."
Rebel leaders said they were not surprised to hear Algeria welcomed Qaddafi's family. Throughout Libya's six-month uprising, rebels have accused Algeria of providing Qaddafi with mercenaries to repress the revolt.
Qaddafi's children played important roles in the country's military and economic life. Hannibal headed the maritime transport company; Mohammed the national Olympic committee. Aisha, a lawyer, helped in the defense of toppled Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in the trial that led to his hanging.
Rebels worry that if Qaddafi is not killed or captured, he will stoke more violence.
NATO reported hitting 22 armed vehicles, three command and control sites, four radar installations and several other targets in the Sirte area Monday. Other targets were hit in contested regions south of Sirte.
Some 90 miles west of Sirte Tuesday, about a dozen armored, gun-mounted trucks were parked at a staging ground in barren desert. A highway overpass provided some shade for rebels, most dressed in T-shirts and camouflage pants.
Ismail Shallouf, a rebel commander at the staging ground, said patrols have gone 30 miles closer to Sirte, and occasionally exchanged fire with Qaddafi fighters.
"The leadership told us to wait for now," Shallouf said. "We don't have any information about the negotiations. Maybe there will be an assault after Eid," the holiday marking the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting.
Mohammed Amer, another local rebel commander, was dismissive of Qaddafi.
"Qaddafi has no more brigades left or equipment," Amer said. "He just has mercenaries who take his money."
A NATO officer, who asked not to be identified because of alliance rules, said on Monday there was fighting 30 miles east of Sirte. He said there are still clashes around Sirte, Bani Walid south of Misrata and Sebha further south.
In Tripoli, rebel leaders trying to set up a new government struggled with widespread shortages of water and fuel. In one neighborhood in the capital, dozens of motorists broke into a gas station Monday and filled plastic contains with fuel. Long lines formed at other gas stations.
Some residents filled containers with drinking water from large trucks, while others relied on wells. One of the water truck drivers, Ramzi Abu Shabaan, said the shortages were a small price to pay.
"I don't care if we go without water for two months even ? frizz-head is gone ? it's worth it," using a commonly used derogatory nickname for Qaddafi.
Shops selling clothes, shoes and toys opened for the first time since the rebels entered the city Aug. 20.
Children accompanied their mothers and fathers into shops to pick clothes and toys for this week's Muslim holiday.
"This will be the happiest Eid we celebrate," said Munira Omar, 30 who bought her two daughters hair clips and dresses.
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