Muammar Gaddafi has apparently vanished after Libyan rebels claimed to be in control of most of Tripoli following their lightning advance on the capital.

The Libyan regime looked to be on the brink of collapse last night as rebel convoys marched on Tripoli and the oppostition claimed that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam had been captured.

How many of you reading this recall the name of Mohammed Bouazizi?

Rebel fighters celebrated victory in Tripoli's Green Square last night as heavy fighting continued in the capital. Hours after Colonel Gaddafi congratulated his forces for standing firm, his son Saif al Islam was arrested by the opposition, the International Criminal Court confirmed.

As of last night, it was unclear whether the regime of Muammar Gaddafi was in its last days if not hours. But it did seem that, for the first time in the six-month conflict, the endgame was finally at hand. Opposition forces were advancing on the capital from three sides and, while reports of clashes in Tripoli itself appeared to be premature, the central question was no longer whether the Gaddafi clan would be overthrown, but when and how – and then what would happen next.

Colonel Muammar Gaddafi is losing his "grip on reality", a Foreign Office minister said today, as rebel forces closed in on the Libyan capital.

Libyan rebels today claimed they were less than 20 miles from Muammar Gaddafi's main stronghold of Tripoli, a day after opposition fighters launched their first attack on the capital itself.

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Rebels and Gaddafi loyalists are locked in a fierce battle to the east and west of Tripoli.

Rebel military commanders say they will be in position to launch an assault on the Libyan capital Tripoli in three days time