The sources said most of the mercenary force was still believed to be
loyal to the regime. They said the most powerful component of the force
stemmed from the Tuareg tribe in northern Mali.
"These are people who will do anything for money, and they are expected
to remain with him until the end," the source said.
The sources said other mercenaries were brought in from Niger and helped
form the so-called Islamic Legion in the 1970s. They said Gadhafi has been
flying in additional African fighters over the last week to protect Tripoli.
"Right now, the mercenaries are no longer operating outside of Tripoli,"
the source said. "Those who were either were ordered back to the capital or
simply ran away."
The sources said the mercenaries were largely responsible for the
killing of Libyan civilians around Tripoli. But they said the Gadhafi
regime was shrinking
and was not believed to be in control of no more than four military camps in
the capital.
"Tripoli is days away from falling," a senior Libyan defector said.
For its part, the Gadhafi regime has insisted that it controls Tripoli
and the surrounding area. On Feb. 27, the regime organized a tour of Zawiya,
some 50 kilometers west of Tripoli. The city of 200,000 has been under
opposition control with pro-Gadhafi forces deploying on the outskirts.
"The whole south is calm," Gadhafi's son, Seif Al Islam, told U.S.
television. "The west is calm. The middle is calm. Even part of the east."
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