LEAD: Supporters of Gaddafi seize control of the town of Bani Walid

Jan 23, 2012, 21:35 GMT

Cairo - Supporters of deposed Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi have seized control of the town of Bani Walid after clashes with a group loyal to the new government, the Doha-based al-Jazeera television reported late Monday.

Bani Walid, 140 kilometers southeast of Tripoli, was one of the last bastions of followers of the late ruler.

The head of the Libyan National Transitional Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, said a force from the Libyan Defence ministry headed to the area to contain the situation, but played down reports that the city was seized by Gaddafi loyalists.

On his part, Libyan Interior Minister Fawzi Abdelali said on Libyan television that 'the information we have says that there are internal problems between the people of this city and this is the reason for what happened.'

Arab media quoting witnesses said gunmen loyal to Gaddafi took control of the town and hoisted green flags, which were used during the rule of Gaddafi, over some important districts in the centre of the city.

Witnesses added that the two sides fought throughout the day using heavy weaponry, killing four people and wounding 20 others.

'We are coming back soon, ' read leaflets thrown across the town by Gaddafi loyalists, witnesses in the area told Arab media.

The clashes were the first such fierce battles between Gaddafi loyalists and the fighters of the new rulers of Libya since Gaddafi was overthrown and assassinated in October 2011.

In November, 15 soldiers loyal to the new leadership were killed in an ambush by Gaddafi loyalists just outside Bani Walid.

Libya's NTC has already been struggling with violent protests in its stronghold city of Benghazi and with the resignation of its second most senior official.

On Saturday, crowds of protesters threw several home-made grenades at the NTC offices in Benghazi, then stormed it with iron rods and stones before setting the building's front ablaze.

They even threw plastic bottles at Abdel Jalil, who is respected across Libya for his active role in the anti-Gaddafi rebellion.

The Benghazi demonstrators denounced the NTC and described it a 'non-transparent' body.