Libya's NTC forces are claiming to have seized most of the town of Bani Walid, where resistance forces for deposed leader Moammar Gadhafi have been holed up and mounting a fierce resistance since late August.

spirited resistance by Gadhafi loyalists remains in Gadhafi's remaining coastal barrier, the coastal enclave of Sirte; however, some reports say fighting has eased in the city.

Interim government loyalists launched mortars and shells at an area of resistance in the town of Sirte Monday, amid violent fighting by a small but tenacious band of soldiers for Muammar Gadhafi.

The head of the Tripoli Revolutionary Council, Col. Abdullah Naker, says Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) forces were having some success with finishing off resistance from Gadhafi forces in Sirte, but he is concerned that Gadhafi's son, who is leading the resistance there, may find a way to flee the region.

Farther south, NTC fighters have entered one of the last outposts still loyal to Gadhafi, Bani Walid.

Naker told journalists that NTC forces have control of the center of Bani Walid, in which they raised the new interim government flag.

Over half of the town is now said to be under the command of NTC forces.

Interim government forces are claiming to control over 80 percent of the town.

Gains by the NTC, however, might not be long-lived.

Reports suggest the Warfalla tribe, the biggest in Libya, is trying to negotiate with the interim government for the surrender of Bani Walid.

The tribe, to which Mr. Gadhafi's wife belongs, is seeking a deal with Libya's next rulers.

A Syrian television station, Arrai television, has confirmed the passing of Khamis, a son of Muammar Gadhafi. Khamis was killed on August 29 during a battle southeast of the capital Tripoli, in the city of Tarhouma. Gadhafi's intelligence chief, a cousin of Khamis, Mohammed Abdullah al-Senousi, also died in the conflict with forces of the National Transitional Council.

The al-Rai channel channel in Syria broadcasted a poor-quality audio recording released by Gadhafi during which the deposed ruler asked loyalists to "be brave and rise up".

Omar Ashour, who teaches political science at the University of Exeter in Britain, said the interim leadership has a weak national army and that most of the nation is held by hundreds of small militias. "The problem with it is that it's not the only armed force in Libya right now and it has very limited influence on possibly 100 or so armed militias. In Tripoli, you have a militia controlling part of the north, another militia controlling part of the south, a third militia controlling the airport, and obviously this makes things very decentralized and at some points chaotic," he said.

Libya's new leaders have said they will begin the process of installing a democratic government after they have captured Sirte. However, some worry how armed resistance might affect that process.