OFFENSIVE

Rebels Lock Down Tripoli

As eldest Gaddafi son escapes.

NATO warplanes are reportedly bombing the compound of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, according to Al-Arabiya television. Meanwhile, Gaddafi's son Saif a-Islam, who was reportedly arrested by rebels Sunday night, was seen at a hotel in Tripoli Monday. A rebel spokesman said that forces have formed checkpoints at the entrances of Tripoli, and that there is little chance that Gaddafi and his son Mohammad would be able to escape. However, Mohammad has reportedly escaped his house arrest. Two other of Gaddafi’s sons are still detained. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has released data showing that the final Libyan rebel push into Tripoli was preceded by an upswing in U.S. air strikes: an average of three a day between Aug. 10 and 22, compared to about one and a half a day from April 1 to Aug. 10.