Gaddafi regime falling apart and in full retreat: Cameron
London - British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Monday the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was in "full retreat" and he should give up any hope he has of clinging on to power.
"His regime is falling apart and in full retreat," Cameron said.
"Gaddafi must stop fighting, without conditions, and clearly show that he has given up any claim to control Libya."
Cameron also said two of Gaddafi's sons had been detained, without naming them.
The International Criminal Court has confirmed that the London-educated Seif al-Islam has been arrested, and another son, Mohamed Gaddafi, was earlier reported to be cornered in his home.
Cameron warned against complacency, saying the situation in Tripoli was "very fluid" and there was heavy fighting between rebels and Gaddafi loyalists in some parts of the city.
"The latest information is that the vast majority of Tripoli is now controlled by free Libyan fighters, although fighting continues - and some of it is extremely fierce," he told reporters.
"Clearly the immediate priority today is to establish security in Tripoli," he said, after breaking off a holiday to return to London to chair an emergency meeting of ministers and military chiefs.
"We are working closely with the NTC [rebel National Transitional Council] to support their plans to make sure that happens," he said.
He said he would be speaking to rebel leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil by telephone later Monday to urge him to respect human rights and avoid reprisals as rebel fighters took control of Tripoli.
Looking further afield, Cameron said Britain's role was to "support the will of the Libyan people, which is for an effective transition to a free, democratic and inclusive Libya".
"This will be a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process with broad international support co-ordinated by the UN - and I am in close contact with partners from Nto, the Arab League and with Chairperson Jalil himself."
