Libya forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi given ultimatum to surrender

They've closed to within 20 miles to the west of Col. Muammar Gaddafi's last remaining stronghold, and 80 miles to the east, menacing the town with troops, tanks, rocket launchers, and Nato air support. The National Transitional Council (NTC) is prepared for the decisive final battle in Libya's six month old civil war. Now they have delivered an ultimatum to the remaining loyalist forces in Gaddafi's home town of Sirte: surrender by the end of Eid (Saturday) or face the full force of a battle you cannot win. 

The hope is to avoid pointless bloodshed. The grunts on the ground would have preferred to press ahead as quickly as possible, concerned that the guardians of Sirte will only use the interregnum to strengthen their defenses. It is a reasonable fear which must have made the decision to pause a daunting one for the NTC.  

If the loyalists will not see reason, the coming battle will be bloody indeed: Sirte is more unified then Tripoli was, and it has had ample time to prepare. But it has no way of being resupplied or reinforced. Sirte could make a valiant stand, but ultimately only a Quixotic one.

Sirte, Libya.