21/08/2011 BBC Weekend News

Good afternoon. The uprising in Libya against

Colonel Gaddafi has entered a new phase with a gun battles erupting

during the night in several areas of Tripoli. Hours after rebel

forces had secured the key city of Zawiya, 30 miles away, heavy

gunfire and explosions resounded across the capital. From Tripoli,

Matthew Price reports. The rebels called it zero hour.

This, they said, was the start of the uprising in Tripoli, the final

battle to control Libya. Distant gunfire and explosions echoed

across the city as opposition and pro-Gadaffi forces fought fierce

battles. Colonel Gaddafi spoke on state television. He told them the

rats, his term for the rebels, had been eliminated. I know you are

happy, he told his supporters. And on state television, the presenter

said she would shoot any rebels who tried to take over the station. The

last time we saw Colonel Gaddafi was months ago. The pressure is

increasing on him. Today, the Foreign Office said a NATO jet had

played a significant role in the last 24 hours. NATO's mandate is to

protect civilians, but it is clear, without its help, the rebels would

not be a strong as they are now. To the West, rebel forces have now

consolidated their hold on the city of Zawiya. They have had a week of

fierce battles there, but they are now advancing towards Tripoli. How

far they get will tell us how strong pro-Gadaffi force is really

are. Matthew joins me now live from

Tripoli. What is the latest? It has been a relatively quiet morning

although in the last few minutes I have heard a loud explosions behind

me in Tripoli itself and the sound of some gunfire. It is clear there

is fighting going on. I also understand that not only are rebels

advancing from the West, moving up the road with one of our BBC

correspondents, they also coming up from the south of here, trying to

get as close as they can to the capital. The rebels are claiming

they have been deaths amongst Colonel Gaddafi's troops and others.

Some are saying this is the end game. If it is not to be for

Colonel Gaddafi, he will have to strike back hard and that is

presumably what we heard last night, fierce clashes to stamp out

opposition here in the capital. Thank you.

The RAF has confirmed that it is grounding all Hawk T-one jets

whilst it carries out an investigation into yesterday's

crash. Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging was killed in the accident just

outside Bournemouth. RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire is home of the Red

Arrows and Danny Savage is there for us now.

Many people have described the Red Arrows here at RAF Scampton as the

lifeblood of the base. They are the main operational flying unit here.

All morning, people have been coming to lay flowers and paid

tribute to people they have got to know in the community. One tribute

says, to the family. They are a close-knit team. We understand they

are still in Bournemouth as inquiries continue following