Rebel fighters in Zawiya

SKY NEWS

Anti-Gaddafi forces in Libya have said they are concentrating their military efforts on the former leader's home town of Sirte - as the National Transitional Council ruled out negotiating with him.

Sky's security editor Sam Kiley has been with rebel fighters in the town of Bin Jawad - 100 miles (150km) to the east of Sirte - which they say they have now taken over.

The rebels said they will focus their military efforts on the area, if negotiations with local leaders fail.

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's whereabouts were unknown, although some believe he has taken refuge in his tribal area.

Anti-Gaddafi forces say fighters loyal to the former dictator have fired Grad rockets at them in the town of Nawfaliyah, near Sirte.

They are also reportedly closing in from the west of Sirte and are believed to be around 18 miles (30km) away.

Col Gaddafi's chief spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim said late on Saturday that the former leader had offered to negotiate with rebels.

Ibrahim said that he himself was still in Tripoli, but would only say that Col Gaddafi was in Libya.

The National Transitional Council said they would not negotiate with the former leader unless he wanted to surrender.

Kiley said NATO bombing had opened the way for the forces to advance into the "last stepping stone before Sirte".

Anti-Gaddafi troops have started to send heavy weapons forward in order to keep their momentum up for what they "hope will be their final battle", Kiley said.

One commander said they hoped NATO would bomb Scud missile launchers and possible weapons warehouses in Sirte.

"What we fear most is chemical weapons, and the long-range missiles," Fadl-Allah Haroun said.

Meanwhile, an opposition military spokesman has said a natural gas pipeline from Libya to Europe has been repaired.

Ahmed Bani said it meant shipments could be resumed, although he did not know when that would be.