TRIPOLI, September 13th.— Members of the self-proclaimed National Transitional Council of Libya (NTC) have given 48 hours to the Libyan city of Bani Walid to surrender. The city, one of Muammar al Gaddafi’s last strongholds, has been holding off rebel attacks for days while enduring the wave of air strikes unleashed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Bani Walid is gripped by paralysis. Dozens of civilians try to flee the city every day, in the hope of getting away from a conflict deeply marked by tribal differences, territorial fighting and ethnic feuds, reported EFE.

Those who have managed to escape confirm fears that the situation is getting worse and worse, with city resident lacking water, gas, electricity, medication and food.

The Amnesty International (AI) a non-profit organisation released a report Tuesday documenting war crimes and "personal vendettas" being perpetrated by the Libyan rebels, including the lynching of soldiers on the eastern front.

In addition, when the NTC took control over the cities of Al Bayda, Benghazi, Derna and Misratah earlier in February, rebel militia began raiding homes, murdering and attacking immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa, on the pretext of them being mercenaries, AI sources revealed.

Among the atrocities committed by the rebels is the assassination in cold blood of 85 alleged mercenaries in the locality of Misratah to the east of Tripoli.

The AP news agency reported recurrent cases of internal wrangling among rebel factions wishing to seize power even before the combats are over. Each part is accusing the other of trying to take control in an effort to establish a new government.

Meanwhile, NATO air strikes on Monday destroyed radar systems, antiaircraft missile equipment, trailers and armour-plated vehicles near the locality of Sirte.