Rebel leader triumphantly arrives in Tripoli

“You can see from the reception the affinity people feel for him,’’ said Jalal al-Gallal, spokesman for the rebel council. “This is a great morale booster for the whole nation.’’

But on the battlefield, the rebels faced more work.

The rebels spent two days skirmishing with loyalist forces in the desert town of Bani Walid but came under rocket, mortar and sniper fire. Then, just as they were making progress yesterday morning, they were forced to retreat so NATO warplanes could get involved.

At least seven airstrikes on loyalist positions soon followed, but the fighters said the momentum of the attack had been lost.

The rebels had been reluctant to attack Bani Walid all week, saying they were trying to avoid a bloodbath. But they gave up on negotiations Friday as they came under rocket fire and it became apparent that Khadafy loyalists were sending reinforcements into the town.

At least two rebel commanders were killed yesterday, after four or five civilian deaths overnight, doctors and officials said. Bani Walid’s loyalist-held radio station rebroadcast Khadafy’s last audio message warning supporters that it was “zero hour’’ and that if they didn’t fight they would “go to hell.’’

Abdullah Kanshil, an official with the rebel council, said that about 1,000 loyalist soldiers were in the town.

“They are launching Grad rockets from private houses so NATO cannot do anything about it,’’ he said.

The Reuters news agency reported black plumes of smoke rising from areas around Bani Walid and artillery explosions echoing across a narrow, rocky valley just outside town, while sniper bullets and shells whistled over rebel positions.

Fighters have said they believe that Khadafy’s son Seif al-Islam and his spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, may still be in Bani Walid. Officials say they think Khadafy is probably hiding near Wadi ash-Shati, a valley and series of oasis towns just north of Sabha, in southern Libya.