Free Republic

A group of rebels besieging a cluster of apartment buildings near the compound of Muammar Gaddafi said they believed the man who led Libya for four decades was hiding in the buildings with some of his sons. Rebels were exchanging fire with Gaddafi loyalists inside the buildings. They did not say why they believed Gaddafi and his sons were inside. "They are together. They are in a small hole," said one of the fighters involved in the battle, Muhammad Gomaa. "Today we finish. Today we will end that."

LONDON — Libya has signed a $13.5 billion weapons deal with Iran for ballistic missiles with chemical warheads and the training to deploy and operate them. The Berlin-based Die Welt daily reported that Iran and Libya signed the accord in June 2002. Western intelligence sources said the deal was meant to bolster Libya's missile and weapons of mass destruction programs. Iran pledged to train Libya in missiles and the production and use of chemical weapons. Under the contract, Libya would obtain chemical warheads for its extended-range Scud-class missiles.