Libya to stop fighting Sunday to let rebels 'surrender'

Qaddafi says his forces are set to regain control over the rebel-held towns of Misrata and Benghazi.

CAIRO/ TRIPOLI: The Libyan army announced that it would halt military operations from Sunday to give rebels the chance to lay down their arms and benefit from an amnesty, state news agency Jana reported.

"The provisional general committee (ministry) of defence has decided to halt military operations against the armed terrorist bands from midnight on Sunday (2200 GMT) ... to give (them) a chance to lay down their arms and benefit from a general amnesty," Jana said.

However, the ministry did not give an ultimatum.

Qaddafi set to take Misrata, Benghazi

Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi said his forces were set to regain control over the rebel-held towns of Misrata and Benghazi, Al Arabiya reported on Thursday.

The Arabic satellite television channel reported brief headlines carrying Qaddafi's comments without saying where or when the remarks were made.

One headline, citing Qaddafi, said the battle in Misrata in western Libya "will be determined" on Thursday and the second said Benghazi "will fall without fighting".

Rebels in Benghazi said Gaddafi's forces were nowhere near but said the outskirts of the city, Libya's second biggest and the headquarters of the rebel movement, had been hit by air strikes on Thursday.