23/08/2011 BBC News at Six

The battle for Tripoli appears to be entering its final stages

tonight. Opposition fighters are now inside Colonel Gaddafi's

compound. After two days of heavy fighting in

the city, rebel forces celebrate and destroy symbols of the Gaddafi

regime. NATO says it's increasingly clear

that the man who has ruled Libya for 42 years is soon to be history.

For the Gaddafi regime, this is the final chapter. The end is near. And

events are moving fast. Colonel Gaddafi's whereabouts is

still unknown. Earlier his son said they would fight on.

We live here and we die here. We are going to win. The people are

with us. Also on tonight's programme: No

case to answer - all sexual assault charges against the former head of

the IMF are dropped. More than 20 years on since the

Hillsborough football disaster, 100,000 people sign a petition

calling for the release of Government papers.

I must get justice for the 96 who died that day and to make the

people who caused that disaster responsible.

Amy Winehouse's family say toxicology reports reveal she had

no illegal substances in her body when she died.

Later in sport: Another Gunners goodbye, they have agreed the sale

Good evening. Welcome to the BBC News at Six. The battle for Tripoli

appears to be entering its final stages tonight. Within the past

hour, rebel fighters have taken control of Colonel Gaddafi's

compound, his power base in the heart of the capital. There have

been celebratory scenes inside the grounds as the fighters there

destroyed symbols of the regime. The dramatic breakthrough comes as

opposition fighters say they now hold much of the western and

northern parts of the capital around Green Square. But pro-

Gaddafi forces still hold the area near the Rixos Hotel where many

journalists are based. For now, the fiercest fighting remains centred

on the Bab Al-Aziziya compound. It is unclear whether the Libyan

leader is still there or has fled. With the first of tonight's reports,

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes looks now at the rebel attack on the Gaddafi

compound. This is the moment millions of

Libyans have been waiting for through six months of bitter

fighting and 42 years of brutal dictatorship. The Libyan leader's

compound has been smashed to pieces by NATO bombing, but the rebels

still found plenty to take their anger out on. Earlier this

afternoon, they had swarmed around the compound walls as NATO jets

swept in and pounded it again from above. With his compound now in

rebel hands, there is still no sign of Colonel Gaddafi himself. We

watched as these rebels set out. Their spirits are once again high.

They believe the end is close. The rebel flag is flying over more and

more neighbourhoods of Tripoli. Bit by bit, the rebels are taking

control. So this is what we have been finding as we have driven into

the western part of Tripoli. These men have formed themselves into a

local militia. They come from this neighbourhood. They have armed

themselves and are setting up checkpoints to defend their

neighbourhoods from Gaddafi's militia. Last night, they killed a

Gaddafi gunman in this car. You see this car? We came last night...

Then he taunts Colonel Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, to come to this

neighbourhood. If you are a man, come here. We die soon, I swear to

God. After months of fear, people are coming back out on to the

streets here, including this British woman out drive bg for the

first time in weeks. -- driving for the first time in weeks. There has

been heavy fighting in the city. There will be. I am sure there will

be. He had his hardliners there who will die for him. Everyone is in

their houses waiting to come out. Really, we are celebrating indoors.

It is frustrating but we just - it is bad news about Saif al-Islam,

but believe me the Libyan people are 90% with the opposition. Even

military officers have joined the rebellion, disgusted at being

ordered to attack civilians. How long do you think it will take

before he is defeated? Maybe two days maximum. It has been a long,

hard and bloody road for these rebels over the last six months.

They are now all desperate for this bloody conflict to be over.

We will talk to Rupert shortly. The Libyan rebels' envoy to the Younis

has said the convoy is in the hands of opposition fighters and the

country will be liberated within 72 hours. With no sign of Colonel

Gaddafi still and pockets of resistance remaining in the capital,

how likely is that? James Robbins reports on a city that still

appears to be divided. The battle for Tripoli remains

intense. As rebels try to push Gaddafi's forces into smaller and

smaller pockets of the capital. As long as the battle rages, civilians

are still at grave risk. We have been hearing from a section of this

frontline where a nurse from Dumbarton is part of a team

overwhelmed by casualties. It is just awful. We have massive arms

fire, small-arms fire and that was for three or four hours last night.

The patients are petrified. My staff are petrified. We are in the

residential area. It has been defended with force. We can see

where in Tripoli Karen Graham was speaking from. The June 11th Clinic

on the frontline beside Colonel Gaddafi's compound. How much do we

know about who controls which parts of Tripoli? From a variety of

credible sources, it seems that large and expanding parts of the

capital are in rebel hands, although not necessarily entirely

secure. These are some of the areas where Gaddafi has lost control

since last Sunday. But tonight, the big breakthrough for the rebels.

They stormed Gaddafi's fortified compound close to the Rixos Hotel

where some foreign journalists are based and where Gaddafi's son, Saif,

appeared last night. You can see the outer wall now breached by the

rebels who have overrun the entire area. In one corner, a substantial

military installation hit by NATO missiles weeks ago. At the centre,

the area used for scores of Gaddafi rallies over the years where rebels

have been pulling down Gaddafi statues. The symbolism of this

compound is immense so taking it has great significance. The rebels

have entered one of Tripoli's airports. It is a possible escape

route for Colonel Gaddafi wrz whereabouts is still unknown. NATO

is clear -- whose whereabouts is still unknown. NATO is clear the

tide against him has turned. This is the final chapter. The end is

near. And events are moving fast. What's clear to everybody is that

Gaddafi is history and the sooner he realises it the better. But the

balt for Tripoli is still not over which means the rebels can -- but

the battle for Tripoli is still not over which means the rebels cannot

yet start rebuilding Tripoli on new foundations. Colonel Gaddafi's son,

Saif al-Islam, appeared before cheering supporters in Tripoli a

day after rebel fighters had claimed he had been captured.

Speaking to the BBC, he said he would continue the fight and would

attack the rats. Matthew Price reports now on the reappearance of

Gaddafi's son. In the dark of the Tripoli night,

Saif al-Islam emerged from the shadows, clearly not under rebel

arrest and here he said to dismiss the rumours.

TRANSLATION: NATO and the West has hi-technology. They stopped TV

broadcasting and radio. They have launched electronic warfare and

through media they have managed to smuggle into the country gangs and

saboteurs but the Libyan people, men and women, has stood firm

against them and managed to break the backbone of the rebels and rats

and gangs. He took a foreign cameraman on a tour of part of the

city. They drove past checkpoints controlled by Gaddafi loyalists,

past groups of people lining up to be given weapons. It was a short

drive, but covered a sizeable area around Colonel Gaddafi's compound

and the south-eastern part of Tripoli. Clearly these are in

government hands. It is our country. These are our people. We live here

and we die here. We are going to win. The people are with us. Saif

al-Islam's convoy has left here, away from our camera he told us

that he has - supporters of Colonel Gaddafi coming in - away from our

cameras he told us that they had broken the backbone of the rebels,

we gave them a hard time, so we are winning, he said. Asked about his

father, Gaddafi, is he safe and well and in Tripoli? He said yes,

of course. Saif al-Islam appeared to be brimming with confidence,

pumped pull of adrenaline. He was smiling. It is clear loyalists are

fighting back in parts of Tripoli. The sudden appearance of Saif al-

Islam said just yesterday to have been captured by the rebels will

only embolden them further. The body that hopes to take charge

of Libya, the National Transitional Council, is watching events closely

and says it hopes to send officials to Tripoli as early as tomorrow.

Leading figures say they are keen to begin the process of

establishing a new government as soon as possible. Paul Wood looks

now at the aims of the rebel leaders.

They are students, businessmen, teachers, most holding a gun for

the first time. They rose up with no outside help. They would have

been crushed but for NATO's help. Now the rebels stand on the brink

of victory, already recognised by many as Libya's legitimate

government. Are they united? The rebels National Transitional

Council is a mix of factions with little more in common than dislike

of Colonel Gaddafi. It is an uneasy coalition between the east and west

of the country, Islamist and secular, former members of the

regime and long-standing exiles. is going to be a mix of different

ideas but if they work within the same framework, then everybody is

free to have their own thoughts and say what they think. So will the

rebels succeed? First, they need to remove Gaddafi and their

credibility was badly dented when his son, Saif al-Islam, appeared in

Tripoli. The rebels had said he was in custody. But even if Saif and

his father are sent to The Hague, a new government will leave many of

those who have fought for them. have learnt from experience where

the police and the security left their jobs and we had a problem to

bring them back. They are a measured part of rebuilding the

security. The rebel political leadership have said there can be

no revenge killings of Gaddafi loyalists. They would risk losing

the support of the NATO countries who got them this far. It would

also undermine the legitimacy of the new government. So no single

forceful and charismatic political personality has yet emerged,

somebody who can heal the divisions. After more than four decades of

rule by Colonel Gaddafi, Libyans may feel that another strong man is

what they don't want. The rebels insist the change-over of power

will happen within the rule of law. There can be no bloodbath in

Tripoli. The character of the Libyan revolution will be tested

and revealed in the coming days. Let's return to Tripoli now. Our

Middle East Correspondent, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, joins us on the

line. Give us a sense of the situation at the moment, then?

I can tell you a little over an hour ago, when the rebels overran

Colonel Gaddafi's compound, the city erupted in gunfire. Initially,

we weren't sure whether this was some sort of counterattack going on

and there was a renewed battle. It became clear with the honking of

car horns that this very, very intense barrage of gunfire across

the city was in celebration. It's been going on - it is still going

on now. People are out on the streets, they are driving their

cars, they are blowing their horns. There is going to be a monstrous

celebration here in Tripoli tonight at the news that Colonel Gaddafi's

compound has fallen. There is also still uncertainty though because I

heard just very recently, within the last 20 minutes, that people

driving down the ring road this afternoon have still been sprayed

with gunfire from certain neighbourhoods by, it is suspected,

the last remnants of Gaddafi supporters within the city. It is

not a totally peaceful situation here. But there is a massive

celebration beginning. No. As you say, NATO very clear, they say that

the country will be liberated within 72 hours. That would be your

I think that we are going to see Tripoli within the next 24-48 hours,

probably. But there is a big question left here. Colonel Gaddafi

and his son have not been found. We don't know if they are in Tripoli,

if they have escaped to another part of Libya or are hiding here.

Until they are caught, this will not be completely over.

You can find out much more about the developing situation in Libya

on our special live page online. It brings together the latest news and

Our top story tonight: The battle for Tripoli appears to be entering

its final stages. Opposition fighters are now inside Colonel

Gaddafi's compound. Coming up: The call for Government

papers to be released, relating to the Hillsborough football disaster.

Later on the News Channel, a mixed picture for manufacturing base in

the eurozone and the UK. -- both in the eurozone.

And a lack of demand for borrowing as we continue to pay off our

A judge in New York has dropped all sexual assault charges against

Dominique Strauss-Kahn. The former head of the International Monetary

Fund had been accused of attacking a hotel chambermaid last May. Let's

go live to the court and our correspondent.

A short time ago, Dominique Strauss-Kahn spoke about what he

called the nightmare that had lasted three months. It ended today

at this court house in a matter of minutes. Arriving at court for the

final time as a defendant. Throughout this case, Dominique

Strauss-Kahn have remained silent, waiting for justice. Today, a judge

dismissed all charges against him. The former head of the IMF had been

accused of sexually assaulting a 32 year-old hotel chambermaid in a

luxury suite. Forensic testing showed there had been a brief

sexual encounter. But the evidence did not prove that it was forced.

Yesterday prosecutors bluntly told Miss Diallo that a jury would

simply not believe her. She had repeatedly changed her story and

lied to investigators, including about an earlier allegation of rape.

It means that the man who was briefly held at New York's most

notorious jail and now attempts to rebuild his political fortunes. --

can now attend. In short time ago, Dominique Strauss-Kahn addressed

reporters outside the rented town house where he has been living on

bail. TRANSLATION: This is the end of a dreadful and unjust ordeal. I

am relieved for my wife, my children and my friends, and all of

those that supported me throughout this period. In France, Dominique

Strauss-Kahn had been considered a strong contender to win next year's

presidential election. As Paris died jested events in New York

today, a simple question: Could he make a comeback? -- digest of

events. Even if the accusations are false, I don't have confidence in

him and I don't like a guy like this running the country. I would

not vote for him even though I think he is the best one to run the

country. It is a bit too late for him to run in the presidential. But

if he was a candidate, I would definitely vote for him. For New

York, it has been the highest profile case in decades, commanding

worldwide attention. It has ended in a stunning U-turn by prosecutors.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn still faces a civil lawsuit and in the very

short term he has to stay here in America pending a procedural appeal

by lawyers. Most people think that appeal will fail, so to all intents

and purposes this criminal case is over.

More than 1400 people have now appeared in court in connection

with the riots in English cities earlier this month. A high

proportion have been refused bail. Metropolitan Police has asked for

all those charged to be kept in custody, it has emerged. Just

picking up on that point, a lot of activity since the riots, but why

has bail been refused? Many people still have their cases to be heard.

Only 157 have been convicted so far, so the courts have to consider that.

There is a police strategy that we are aware of that was taking place

during the riots. We have a copy of it. If people are going to be

charged and there is evidence that means the threshold for charging,

in the police's view, they should be kept in custody. The police have

been asking the courts to keep people in custody and 62% have been

remanded in custody which is six times the normal level. Police are

pushing charges even when they do not have all the evidence that they

might have. They are giving themselves time to go through all

of the CCTV footage, for example. They can do that under the rules

but it is unusual and normally only used in unusual places. The police

are saying people need to be kept in custody to prevent them doing

anything else, such as protesting or rioting and causing trouble. We

have more convictions today. A man convicted of trying to persuade

people to riot on Facebook, and finally a Guardian poll. Seven out

of 10 people responded to that saying that the people involved in

writing should face tougher sentences. Thank you. -- involved

in riots. Over 20 years ago, 96 Liverpool

supporters lost their lives at the Hillsborough football stadium. And

e-petition has gathered 100,000 signatures asking for the release

of papers which include conversations with the then Prime

Minister Margaret Thatcher. They say in Liverpool that they will

never forget. In a city where football is almost like a religion,

22 years after the Hillsborough disaster the tragedy is never far

from people's minds. This couple lost their son at Hillsborough. He

had just got married and was a keen footballer himself when he died

aged 27. His parents say they are still looking for answers. They

need to know exactly what happened that day. We need to get closer and

get some peace of mind. The word that has always been with me is

justice. I must get justice for the 96 that died that day. And make the

people that caused that disaster responsible bylaw and face the

consequences. In 1989, Liverpool were playing in an FA Cup semi-

final at Hillsborough when fans became crushed in the stands. Lack

of police control was blamed. The then Prime Minister Margaret

Thatcher was briefed on the tragedy, and there is now a campaign for

those Government papers to be released. Two years ago, after the

20th anniversary of Hillsborough was commemorated at Anfield, an

independent panel into the tragedy was set up. The Government has said

they will not release the Margaret Thatcher papers now but they will

be made public in due course because they will be given to that

panel. Kenny Dalglish managed Liverpool then, as he does now, and

has signed the petition. He understands that the papers will

not be released immediately. don't think anybody has a problem

with that. The most important people in the whole process are the

families, and the families seemed quite relaxed about it.

Independent Panel was examining 40,000 documents relating to the

disaster and the aftermath. The job of the Hillsborough Independent

Panel is to demonstrate how all the documents once released add to

public understanding of the disaster. At the 20th anniversary

ceremony, the crowd chanted justice for the 96. There are thousands

here that say they are still waiting.

Amy Winehouse's family have issued a statement saying that toxicology

tests have shown there were no illegal substances in her body when

she died last month. The results indicate that alcohol was present

but it is not yet clear that played a role in the singer's death.

Amy Winehouse's death was accompanied by many headlines

claiming it was linked to drugs. Her drug use during her life was no

secret. At times a family despaired at what they feared was a downward

spiral. While it was claimed by her father that she had managed to stay

free of drugs in the months before her death, the suspicions remained.

In a statement issued by her family, they say toxicology testing has

shown there were no illegal substances in her body. There was

alcohol, but whether that had any role in her death cannot yet be

determined. The area in front of her home in London has now become a

bedraggled shrine to the singer. Each day a handful of fans pass by

to pay their respects. One month on, the cause of her death is still not

known. The statement from the coroner today simply added they had

disclosed the results of toxicology testing to all properly interested

persons in the inquest into the death of Amy Winehouse. They said

disclosure of further evidence would follow in due course and the

cause of her death would be determined at the final inquest

hearing set for 25th October, 2011. Nevertheless it does not erase the

excesses, the self-destructive behaviour during her lifetime. Her

father said she had been clean of drugs for three years. He wants to

remember her with a foundation, tellingly a foundation that aims to

Now it is time to take a look at the weather. Hello.

Hello. It should be largely dry for many of us overnight but it will be

damp for some of you, even if it is not raining. It will turn

increasingly misty. If we fire up the graphics, if they work...

Anyway, let me tell you what will happen. Damp and misty through

tonight in many parts. Rain in eastern England and then later in

the night we will see some showers around, particularly in Northern

Ireland when the night will finish on a wet note. Their budget should

not drop below 10 degrees. -- temperatures should not drop. In

Northern Ireland, wet weather before the sunshine comes out in

the morning. Some of the showers in the Western Isles could be heavy.

Further East, brighter moments with some misty patches. Overnight

showers continue into North West England but in eastern areas we

will see the most mist and fog. Some drizzle in parts of East

Anglia and the South East corner. That will quickly clear. The

Midlands and the South coast will see more brightness than this

morning. There will be bright skies around across the South West but we

will see some heavy showers on the go at this stage in the day. Heavy

showers into western parts of Wales but eastern areas will be dry. The

showers are fairly fragmented and they will push in across many parts

of western Scotland, West and Wales and England. The further East you

are, it will be drier and brighter. Temperatures will be five to eight

degrees warmer than we saw this afternoon, peaking at about 23.

More persistent rain will sweep from the South West into the North

East overnight. Scattered showers in the West with some sunshine on

Thursday and as we go into the weekend, the showers will ease.

Our top story: The battle for Tripoli appears to be nearing its

end with fighters inside Gaddafi's compound. Our correspondent joins

us down the line from the compound. What is the latest? At the compound