psychological

and emotional victory for our troops."

Libyan rebels also say they've overrun the strategic eastern oil port of Ras Lanuf, and they said they were on their way towards the city of Sirte, birthplace of Colonel Gaddafi which is still a stronghold of his supporters. The rebels said there had been no damage to the oil facilities at Ras Lanuf.

In international reaction, the European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the UN should play a lead role in the future of Libya while the State Department in Washington said it would seek to release up to $1.5bn in frozen Libyan assets. The British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the rule of Colonel Gaddafi was in its "death throes", but he

warned against

complacency

.

"It's still a difficult and dangerous situation. There are many, many weapons out there; there are thousands of people who were until very recently being paid by Gaddafi in his army or as mercenaries to support the regime, many of whom may still be

at large

, so I think still some difficult and dangerous days."

The International Red Cross says the fighting in Tripoli has led to an urgent need for medical supplies and staff. A spokesman for the Red Cross in the city said many civilians were among the injured as many of the clashes had taken place in residential areas. He said many doctors were finding it difficult to get to the hospitals and other facilities because of the continuing battles.