CAIRO: Rebels have moved on the Libyan capitol of Tripoli. Over 1,300 people have been killed in 24 hours, according to a government spokesman. Two of Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi's sons are in rebel custody. And a Libyan rebel leader says the top military unit in charge of protecting Gadhafi has surrendered. While some have predicted that Gadhafi would hang on for another six months despite Libya's brutal uprising, it seems the leader's days may be numbered. Gadhafi's eldest son, Mohamed, turned himself over to the rebel forces Sunday night. Another son, Seif al-Islam, previously expected to be Gadhafi's heir, was captured by rebel forces. The rebels are insisting that Gadhafi will fall within hours, and Western leaders are also predicting that Gadhafi's time is finally up. "It is clear from the scenes we are witnessing in Tripoli that the end is near for Kadhafi," said a statement from British Prime Minister David Cameron's office shortly after news broke of Seif al-Islam's arrest. A U.S. State Department spokeswoman said on Sunday, "Gadhafi's days are numbered." NATO's secretary general also chimed in. "The Gadhafi regime is clearly crumbling," Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a statement early Monday morning. "The sooner Gadhafi realizes that he cannot win the battle against his own people, the better." The action has caught the attention of the world's internet users as well as its leaders: the terms 'Tripoli,' 'Seif al-Islam' and 'Green Square' were all trending worldwide on the social networking site Twitter. Libyans were ecstatic. “Every Libyan I've talked to, everyone is happier than I've ever seen them before,” Marwa Benhalim told Youm7 in Cairo. Benhalim is a Libyan who lives in the Egyptian capital with her family. She wasn't convinced that Gadhafi would be out within hours or even days, however. “Maybe a week from now” he'll be gone, she said. “I think he's not going to stop fighting until they kill him." Part of why Gadhafi's time is not quite up, said Benhalim, is because no one is sure where exactly he is. The Libyan Transitional Council (LTC) has said Gadhafi is currently on the Algerian border. They said they have confirmation through intelligence sources that Gadhafi is there and also said his most recent speech was broadcast from the area. Ever defiant, Gadhafi's message minutes ago called on Libyans to “purge the capital” of rebel forces, adding that there was “no place for the agents of colonialism in Tripoli and Libya." “We're finally in Tripoli,” said Benhalim, who was planning to go to the Libyan Embassy in Cairo, where Libyans are expected to gather as the night progresses. “I think it's great… but I'm worried because there are a lot of things happening at the same time.” A number of countries have recognized the LTC as the legitimate government in Libya. The LTC has promised safe passage out of the country to Gadhafi and his sons if they announce their departure, according to Al-Jazeera.
