Gaddafi's Son Mutassim 'Captured In Sirte'

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's son Mutassim has been captured, Libyan officials have said - as anti-Gaddafi forces continue to pound the ousted dictator's last supporters in the city of Sirte.

The National Transitional Council said Mutassim Gaddafi was arrested trying to flee the city in a car with his family.

There were celebrations on the streets of Benghazi, the power base of the revolution, where reports said he was taken on Wednesday morning to be questioned.

During the battle for Libyan capital Tripoli in August, it was claimed three of Col Gaddafi's sons - Saif al Islam, Saadi and Mohammed - had been seized by anti-Gaddafi fighters.

But they either escaped or the claims were incorrect.

The former dictator's fifth son was widely reported to be leading the defence of Gaddafi's home town of Sirte, which the interim government's fighters say they are slowly bringing under their control .

"More than 80% of Sirte is now under our control. Gaddafi's men are still in parts of the Number Two and the 'Dollar' neighbourhoods," National Transitional Council commander Mustah Hamza said.

Pro-Gaddafi forces have mounted a tenacious defence of Sirte since the interim government's forces began besieging the city on September 15.