The final assault on Sirte - in pictures

Family members flee the fighting in Sirte at a checkpoint controlled by anti-Gaddafi fighters a couple of miles outside the city Photograph: Anis Mili/Reuters

Anti-Gaddafi fighters burn a flag from the Gaddafi regime Photograph: Asmaa Waguih/Reuters

Anti-Gaddafi fighters in a tank fire at Gaddafi forces Photograph: Asmaa Waguih/Reuters

National Transitional Council fighters fire a rocket-propelled grenade at troops loyal to Gaddafi as they close in on Sirte Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

Anti-Gaddafi fighters take aim Photograph: Manu Brabo/AP

NTC fighters sit on a truck after finding a cache of weapons inside a house in the village of Qasr Abu Hadi, where fighting has been intense for the past three days Photograph: Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP/Getty Images

A rebel fighter checks the passport of an International Red Cross staff member in Sirte. The Red Cross said staff had been able to cross the frontline with a truck fully loaded with medical supplies from the west side of Sirte Photograph: Anis Mili/Reuters

A wounded rebel fighter waits for attention from medical staff at a makeshift dressing station in a mosque near Sirte Photograph: Anis Mili/Reuters

Rebel fighters assemble missiles during an attack on Sirte Photograph: Bela Szandelszky/AP

Civilians from Sirte line up at a checkpoint outside the coastal city as they flee their homes after an announcement by the NTC that locals were being given two days to leave the area. The announcement came as the International Red Cross warned of a medical emergency Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

An anti-Gaddafi fighter fires an RPG less than a mile from the centre of Sirte Photograph: Anis Mili/Reuters

An anti-Gaddafi fighter runs to take cover from incoming shelling by pro-Gaddafi forces Photograph: Asmaa Waguih/Reuters

Rebels fire an RPG Photograph: Manu Brabo/AP

A rebel fighter flashes a victory sign after finding the weapons dump inside a house in Qasr Abu Hadi Photograph: Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP/Getty Images

A Libyan NTC fighter reacts outside a field hospital near the frontline of Sirte Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

An anti-Gaddafi fighter killed in Sirte, is transported to a field hospital, 2 miles (3km) east of the town Photograph: Saad Shalash/Reuters

An anti-Gaddafi fighter loads a machine gun during an attack Photograph: Bela Szandelszky/AP

Anti-Gaddafi fighters take position during a street battle in Sirte Photograph: Ahmad Al-rubaye/AFP/Getty Images

Medical experts carry a wounded Libyan NTC fighter into a field hospital near the frontline of Sirte Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images