800 Dead in Battle for Sirte

As the war in Libya escalates, rebels are battling Gaddafi forces in an attempt to take over the leader's hometown of Sirte. Eight hundred people have died there in the past three days alone, a rebel spokesman told the The Telegraph. "Many of the people of Sirte are on our side now and want to be part of the revolution," he claimed, though armed loyalists are putting up a strong fight. The death toll from the past few days has rebel leaders concerned about their approach: a quick siege could result in a military disaster, but delaying has already cost them a staggering number of civilian lives. For now, delaying looks like the best option, as rebel leaders hope more people in Sirte will join the revolution as conditions worsen.