"Sleeper cells of revolutionaries went into action and fighting has taken place between them and armed men loyal to Kadhafi on the streets of the town," said National Transitional Council official Abdullah Kenshil, who had been negotiating for a surrender of Bani Walid.
Kenshil said the main forces of the NTC were still outside Bani Walid, about "one kilometre from the town."
"We will not launch an attack without a decision by the NTC, but for now we have no choice and we want to protect our forces and the inhabitants of the town," Kenshil told reporters about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Bani Walid.
He also reported one death and four wounded among the "revolutionary" fighters, and three deaths in the ranks of the pro-Kadhafi forces.
The NTC has given a Saturday deadline for those towns remaining loyal to Kadhafi to surrender.
Earlier in the day, its forces were engaged in heavy fighting near the town.
"Fierce fighting between our forces and pro-Kadhafi ones is underway in sectors very close to Bani Walid," Abdullah al-Khzami had told AFP. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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