Col Muammar Gaddafi's forces were staging a desperate and bloody stand in the Libyan capital Tripoli last night as the despot carried out his threat to fight to the bitter end.

Having gained control of much of the capital's streets following their lightning-quick advance over the weekend, rebel fighters were drawn into a dramatic siege at the heavily-fortified Bab al-Azizia compound as well as skirmishes in a number of districts.
Gaddafi, who has not appeared in public for three months, is widely believed to be holed up in Libya, and directing his remaining soldiers and tanks to fire at will on his opponents.
David Cameron joined other world leaders in calling on Gaddafi to give himself up to spare further bloodshed, but their appeals fell on deaf ears as artillery and sniper fire continued to inflict casualties.
President Barack Obama declared the Gaddafi regime "over", while the Prime Minister said the regime was "in full retreat" but warned against "complacency" as the fighting continued.
In other developments: