Gaddafi loyalists seize control of Libyan town Bani Walid

Tripoli, Jan 24 (ANI): Fighters loyal to slain Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi have seized the town of Bani Walid.

In a brazen attack they killed five people and loyalists occupied the town.

Mahmud Warfelli, a spokesman of the Bani Walid council, said the attack was launched by "a group of remnants of the old regime," and called for outside help to prevent a feared "massacre".

"There are around 100 to 150 men armed with heavy weapons who are attacking. We have asked for the army to intervene, but the defence ministry and NTC have let us down," The Sun quoted Warfelli, as saying.

"(The gunmen) took control and hoisted the green flag on some districts, some important districts in the centre of the city. We're out of the frying pan into the fire. We've been warning about this for the past two months," he added.

According to the report, a spokesperson for the ruling National Transitional Council confirmed that a group of fighters 'took control of the entire city of Bani Walid'. (ANI)