Gadhafi family members flee Libya, Algeria says

Several members of deposed Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi's family have fled the country and arrived in Algeria, according to media reports citing the Algerian foreign ministry, in a further sign his regime has collapsed.

The official Algeria Press Service reported the ministry saidGadhafi's wife Safia, daughter Aisha, as well as sons Mohammed and Hannibal, entered the neighbouring country on Monday morning.Other reports said some of Gadhafi's grandchildren were with the group. The reports did not saywhether Gadhafi himself was with the family.

Drivers began honking their hornsand people shouted in the streets of central Tripoli shortly after news of the family's departure emerged, the CBC'sDerek Stoffel reported from the capitalvia Twitter.

Algeria has been slow to recognize the National Transition Council as Libya's official government, and it is thought the country would harbour Gadhafi should he flee Libya, said the CBC's Susan Ormiston, who is also in Tripoli.

"Algeria certainly now is playing a role in this conflict [by] offering a refuge for some of Gadhafi's family," she said.

An Algerian official said the Gadhafis were admitted to the country"on humanitarian grounds."

A commander with forces loyal to the Anti-Gadhafi National Transition Council(NTC) also said one of Gadhafi's other sons,Khamis, was killed in battle near the capital. There was no independent confirmation of the claim.

The NTC has previously been embarrassed when it claimed another of Gadhafi's sons, Seif al-Islam, was captured, only for the once-heir-apparent to Gadhafi's rule to emerge the next day at a publicappearance before supporters in Tripoli.

Gadhafi still a 'danger to the world'

The report comes as thehead the NTC urged NATO to continue its air campaign supporting the fight against Gadhafi's forces, saying the ousted ruler still poses a "danger to the world."

NTC chair Mustafa Abdul-Jalil made the appeal for continued NATO pressure at a meeting with senior alliance officials in the Gulf nation of Qatar on Monday, as anti-Gadhafi forces pressed on toward Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte.

CBC News in Libya

The CBC's Susan Ormiston and Derek Stoffel travelled to the site of a suspected massacre on Sunday on a Gadhafi military camp.Read their full report.

"Gadhafi's defiance of the coalition forces still poses a danger, not only for Libya, but for the world. That is why we are calling for the coalition to continue its support," Jalil said following the meeting in Doha.

He said Gadhafi, whose whereabouts are unknown, is still capable of "doing something awful in the last moments."

"Even after the fighting ends, we still need logistical and military support from NATO," Jalil stressed.

Battle expected for Gadhafi stronghold

The NTC hasbeen struggling todeal with severe shortages of fuel, water and electricity in the battle-wearycapital, Tripoli, after seizing control of the city last week. The council's forces now control most of the country and are planning an offensive on Sirte a bastionforthe Gadhafi clan during his 42-year rule over the nation.

On Sunday, a spokesman for Gadhafi said the deposed leader is willing to take part in a transfer of power a sharp contrast to earlier promises that he would fight until victory or death.

But the NTC has rejected the overture, insisting Gadhafi and his family must surrender before any talks begin. The council has said it wants to try him in Libya for crimes against humanity.

Anti-Gadhafiforces have been converging from the east and west on Sirte, preparing to do battle with Gadhafi loyalists.

However, no fighting there has been reported yet and rebel leaders say they are trying to negotiate a peaceful surrender with local tribes to avoid further bloodshed.