In major blow to rebels,Seif surfaces after capture claim

Fresh fighting erupted in Tripoli hours after Muammar Gaddafis son turned up free to thwart Libyan rebel claims he had been captured.

Fresh fighting erupted in Tripoli on Tuesday hours after Muammar Gaddafis son turned up free to thwart Libyan rebel claims he had been captured,a move that seems to have energised forces still loyal to the embattled regime.

Seif al-Islams sudden,even surreal,arrival at a Tripoli hotel where foreign journalists are staying threw the situation in the capital into confusion. The appearance of Gaddafis son and former heir apparent underlined the potential for the longtime Libyan leader,whose whereabouts remain unknown,to strike back even as his grip on power seemed to be slipping fast.

The rebel leadership seemed stunned that Seif al-Islam was free. A spokesman,Sadeq al-Kabir,had no explanation and could only say,This could be all lies.

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He could not confirm whether Seif al-Islam escaped rebel custody,but he did say that another captured Gadhafi son,Mohammed,had escaped the home arrest that rebels had placed him in a day earlier. On Monday,the rebels had said Seif al-Islam was captured,but did not give details on where he was held.

Seif al-Islam turned up early Tuesday at the Rixos hotel,where about 30 foreign journalists are staying in Tripoli. He took reporters on a drive through parts of the city still under the regimes control,saying,We are going to hit the hottest spots in Tripoli. He also added that his father Muammar Gaddafi was safe and still in Tripoli.

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