Gaddafi's Compound Under Bombardment

The Lybian leader's headquarters is coming under attack from rebels in a second day of heavy fighting in the capital city of Tripoli.

Middle eastern news network Al Jazzera are reporting that fierce clashes between government forces and opposition fighters are ongoing in the al-Mansoura district and that there were scenes of jubilation after the rebels marched into the heart of the city on Tuesday.

A number of conflicting messages had emerged in recent days about the progress of the rebelling forces, who had claimed to be in control of the capital and to have taken Gadaffi's son, Saif al-Islam, prisoner.

However, Saif al-Islam appeared in al-Mansoura early on Tuesday morning to refute the claims and to rally government loyalists.

He also claimed to have led the advancing rebel forces into a "trap", spreading further confusion over what may be the final scenes in the six month's long conflict.

Following a meeting of the National Security Council On Tuesday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it is "only a matter of time" before Colonel Muammar Gadaffi is defeated.

Mr Clegg also responded to the reappearance of Saif al-Islam as "not the sign of some great comeback" for the regime.

However, despite Mr Clegg's certainty, a number of reports from the region are claiming that the rebel's are currently facing robust fire from loyalists, while Colonel Gadaffi's whereabouts are currently unkown.

On Monday, the Prime Minister spoke outside Downing Street and stressing the situation in Libya was "very fluid" and that their was no room for complacency.

The PM also said the transition to a free and democratic Libya should be a "Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process".

"Our task now is to do all we can to support the will of the Libyan people which is for an effective transition to a free, democratic and inclusive Libya."

Mr Cameron said the Government would establish a 'diplomatic presence' in Tripoli as soon as it was safe to do so.

(DW/BMcC)