Six Killed as Gadhafi Loyalists Attack Across Algeria Border

Rebels: Gunmen Had Been Crossing for Several Days

by Jason Ditz, September 25, 2011

At least six people were killed today and 63 others wounded when fighters loyal to Moammar Gadhafi attacked rebel forces in the border city of Ghadames, near the Algerian border.

Rebel commanders say that the attackers came from Algeria, and were members of the Khamis Brigade, loyal to oft-killed military commander Khamis Ghadafi. They insisted the attackers came via car over the past several days.

The move comes as something of a surprise, as most reports had the preponderance of Gadhafi’s troops fleeing to Niger, not Algeria. It does, however, suggest the loyalist forces are back on the move.

Though the rebels had portrayed Gadhafi forces as mostly centered around the cities of Bani Walid and Sirte, they also hold support in the south. If the fighters that fled are starting to move back into Libya, this could suggest the current civil war is going to last much longer than expected.

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