AL AMIGO DE VIGO COMPLETA LA HISTORIA

e Libyan capital, Tripoli, was rocked by explosions and gunfire on Saturday, as residents reported clashes with security forces in a number of locations.

Journalists in the city, based at the central Rixos hotel, described hearing heavy gunfire, while residents contacted by news agencies described fighting in opposition areas after a text message was sent out to phones calling on those living in the capital to: "Go out on to the streets and eliminate agents with weapons."

The fighting in Tripoli comes after days of battlefield defeats leftMuammar Gaddafi's government and troops penned ever more tightly in the besieged capital. Although the scale of the clashes was impossible to determine, there were widespread claims among the Libyan rebels that Gaddafi's 41-year rule was edging ever closer to collapse.

As gunfire was still audible outside, a government spokesman, Moussa Ibrahim, told reporters the incidents were "isolated" and short-lived. He blamed "armed gangs" of a few dozen rebels who had sneaked into Tripoli, including foreign mercenaries, some of whom had been captured.

"Sure, there were some armed militants who escaped into some neighbourhoods and there were some scuffles, but we dealt with it within a half hour and it is now calm," the spokesman said.

He added: "I ensure Libyans that Gaddafi is your leader … Tripoli is surrounded by thousands to defend it."

Later in the evening news agencies in Tripoli reported that the sound of gunfire appeared to diminish – although why was not clear. "It has become much less," said a Reuters reporter. "Almost a minute went by without the sound of gunfire."

Two Tripoli residents in different parts of the city also said the sound of shooting, which earlier had been intense, had subsided, suggesting Gadaffi's forces remained largely in control. The reports of clashes in Tripoli came in the midst of a febrile mood among rebel forces, who swapped rumours and fired weapons in celebration, convinced that Gaddafi's days are almost over.

One of the few things that was certain was that the l