Gaddafi soldiers ‘hand themselves in’ to Tunisian military

Thirteen Libyan officers and soldiers, including a general, handed themselves over to the Tunisian military at the border according to Tunisia’s state news agency TAP.

It said they were seeking refuge after clashes with the insurgents.

Thousands of Libyans fleeing worsening violence in the region known as Western Mountains have poured into southern Tunisia and the border town of Dehiba in recent days.

The violence in the sparsely-populated area of Libya has received little of the international attention given to attacks on Libyan cities on the coast such as Misrata and Ajdabiyah.

He said there had been fierce fighting near the border, lasting until Thursday morning, and that dozens of Colonel Gaddafi‘s soldiers had turned themselves over to the Tunisian army.

“We see rebels who control the border crossing,” a witness who gave his name as Ali said.

The Defence Ministry was not immediately available for comment.

Channel 4 News spoke to an anonymous source in Libya on Wednesday who said the situation in the Nafusa Mountains was on the verge of a humanitarian crisis.

Read more: Libya's mountain villagers facing starvation.

The post is the smaller of Tunisia’s two border crossings with Libya; the main one is at Ras Jdir further north.

Another witness at the crossing said rebels were celebrating by shooting in the air. Gunfire could be heard over the phone.

TAP confirmed the incident. “Libyan revolutionaries … took control of the border gate of the Libyan side of Dehiba crossing after a heavy exchange of fire,” it said, citing its reporter.

Read more: attacks on Misrata may be 'war crimes'

Towns in Western Mountains joined a wider revolt against Gaddafi’s autocratic four-decade-old rule in February and are now facing Government bombardment.

The area is populated by Berbers, a group ethnically distinct from most Libyans and traditionally viewed with suspicion by Gaddafi’s Government.

TAP confirmed the incident. “Libyan revolutionaries … took control of the border gate of the Libyan side of Dehiba crossing after a heavy exchange of fire,” it said, citing its reporter.

Read more: attacks on Misrata may be 'war crimes'

Towns in Western Mountains joined a wider revolt against Gaddafi’s autocratic four-decade-old rule in February and are now facing Government bombardment.

The area is populated by Berbers, a group ethnically distinct from most Libyans and traditionally viewed with suspicion by Gaddafi’s Government.

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