Libyan Rebels Capture Major Base Defending Capital

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By DARIO LOPEZ and KARIN LAUB and BEN HUBBARDAssociated Press

TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) _ Libyan rebels captured a major military base that defends Moammar Gadhafi's stronghold of Tripoli as clashes and protests raged in the streets of the capital on Sunday. The tide of the 6-month-old civil war appeared to be turning quickly against the leader of more than four decades.

As Associated Press reporter with the rebels rapidly advancing toward Tripoli saw them take over the base of the Khamis Brigade, 16 miles west of the capital. After a brief gunbattle, Gadhafi's forces fled what was once a major symbol of the regime's power.

Gadhafi's 27-year-old son Khamis commands the 32nd Brigade, also known simply as the Khamis Brigade, one of the best trained and equipped units in the Libyan military.

Inside the base, hundreds of rebels cheered wildly and danced, raising the rebel flag on the front gate of a large, gray wall enclosing the compound. They seized large stores of weapons, driving away with truckloads of whatever arms they could get their hands on. One of the rebels carried off a tube of grenades, while another carted off two mortars.

Ahmed al-Ajdal, 27, a fighter from Tripoli, was loading up a truck with ammunition.

``This is the wealth of the Libyan people that he was using against us,'' he said, pointing to his haul. ``Now we will use it against him and any other dictator who goes against the Libyan people.''

Mahmoud al-Ghwei, 20 and unarmed, aid he had just came along with a friend for the ride into Tripoli with the advancing force.

``It's a great feeling. For all these years, we wanted freedom and Gadhafi kept it from us. Now we're going to get rid of Gadhafi and get our freedom,'' he said.

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Laub reported from Zawiya. Hadeel Al-Shalchi in Cairo and Slobodan Lekic in Brussels contributed to this report.

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