Abdel Fattah Younes Libyan rebel’s commander killed

According to the National Transitional Council, Libyan rebel’s military commander combating to fall Col Muammar Gaddafi has been executed.

Mustafa Abdul-Jalil head of NTC said Gen Abdel Fattah Younes was killed by attackers, and the head of the group responsible had been detained.

He said Gen Younes was called for inquiring about military operations, but never made it to the meeting. Reports said Gen Younes was alleged of fastens to pro-Gaddafi forces.

Two helpers to Gen Younes, Col Muhammad Khamis and Nasir al-Madhkur, were also killed in the assault, Mr. Jalil said, counting that there would be three days of grief in their honor.

The conditions of the killings were not clear. Mr. Jalil did not say who the attackers were or what their inspirations were.

Gen Younes is a past Libyan interior minister who unperfected to the rebel side in February.

He was also part of the group that assisted bring Col Gaddafi to power in 1969.

Some unverified reports said Gen Younes and two helpers had been detained prior on Thursday near Libya's eastern front.

In a while after the pronouncement of Gen Younes' death, gunmen entered the basis of the hotel in the eastern city of Benghazi where Mr. Jalil was talking, reportedly firing into the air before being persuaded to leave.

Prior on Thursday, insurgents said they had captured the strategically crucial town of Ghazaya near the Tunisian border, after sharp fighting with Col Gaddafi's forces.

They reportedly gained control of various other towns or villages in the area.

The rebels are fighting to break a military stalemate five months into the revolt against Col Gaddafi's rule.

Activists capture most of eastern Libya from their base in Benghazi and the western port city of Misrata, while Col Gaddafi keeps much of the west, counting the capital, Tripoli.

Late on Thursday AFP news agency reported blasts trembling the centre of Tripoli, as state TV reported that planes were flying over the Libyan capital.

Nato, acting under a UN mandate allowing military action for the security of civilians, has carried out conventional air strikes in the Tripoli area.

In the mean time, the South African ambassador to the UN, Baso Sangqu, advised that helpers of the activists were in danger of defying UN sanctions.

His remarks came a day after Britain decided the activists diplomatic recognition and said it would unblock £91 million ($149m) in iced up Libyan oil assets for the rebels.

"We have noted the calls for Gaddafi must quit," Mr. Sangqu said. "We preserve that such statements do not bring us any closer to a political solution."

The mounting trend to grant diplomatic gratitude to the Libyan activists is facing opposition on the Security Council, and that moves to back the rebels will more polarize Council members.

Portugal has become the newest of about 30 countries to have recognized the NTC.