Gaddafi may have fled to Algeria: Report

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Muammar Gaddafi, who has ruled Libya uninterrupted for 42 years remained elusive as rebel forces swept into his capital Tripoli with reports suggesting that the dictator had fled to neighbouring Algeria or could be holed-up in a bunker to attempt a last stand.

With rebels reported in occupation of 95 per cent of the capital except Gaddafi's command and control centre Bab al-Aziziya, speculation was rife about the whereabouts of Gaddafi.

A rebel spokesman claimed that Gaddafi and some of his family members were spotted making a dash towards Algeria, while Al-arabiya quoting its correspondent in the Libyan capital said that Gaddafi was in the Tajura-Cardiac hospital.

But said there were no reports on whether Gaddafi was undergoing treatment in the hospital or simply taking refuge. But diplomatic sources quoted by BBC reported that the Libyan strongman was in Tripoli in his Bab al-Aziziya command and control centre.

The Bab al-Aziziya compound has been regularly pounded by NATO airstrikes and most of the buildings in the compound have been flattened. Rebel sources said that Gaddafi had constructed a number of deep bunkers in the complex where he could take cover.
But the rebels vowed that 'Gaddafi would be hunted down'.

"We will leave no stone unturned to trace the tyrant and make him face trial," rebels commander told Al-jazeera. While there was a big question mark about Gaddafi, Al-jazeera reported that his all powerful brother-in-law and intelligence chief Abdullah Senussi had been killed.

Al-jazeera also said that Gaddafi's favourite son Saif al-Islam, who along with his father faces charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands had been captured and was safe.

The Qatar-based Arab news channel reported that two other sons of Gaddafi, Mohammad and Saadi, have been captured. Mohammad Gaddafi was captured in dramatic circumstances while giving an interview to Al-jazeera.