LIBYAN rebels last night clashed with troops still loyal to Muammar Gaddafi as the bloody battle to secure the nation's capital continued.

Fighting and gun battles erupted in parts of Tripoli as supporters of the regime made a last ditch attempt to resist rebel forces who are now believed to control almost 90% of the city.

Reports suggest hundreds of people on both sides have been killed in the violence, while thousands -- including a three-year-old toddler and an 11-year-old girl -- have been injured.

Rebels were attacked by tanks emerging from Gaddafi’s compound at Bab al-Azizia in western Tripoli yesterday, where witnesses say there has been sustained gunfire. Gaddafi loyalists are also in control around the Rixos Nasr Hotel where many journalists are based.

A US official claimed a scud missile has been fired from the town of Sirte, but it was unclear what the missile was targeting.

A rebel commander said: “Revolutionaries are positioned everywhere in Tripoli, but Gaddafi’s forces have been trying to resist. Snipers are the main problem and there is a big number of martyrs.”

A Tripoli resident last night added: “We are bracing ourselves for another night of intense street fighting.”

Earlier in the city there were scenes of jubilation as residents and rebel forces celebrated the impending collapse of the leader’s 42-year rule.

Crowds cheered as reinforcements in trucks and cars poured into the capital and people gathered in Green Square, which was previously the scene of nightly pro-Gaddafi demonstrations.

Images of Gaddafi were torn down and destroyed and green flags representing his leadership were ripped apart.

The rebels have set up checkpoints throughout the city and claim that even more recruits are due to arrive by boat today.

The state TV channel was taken off the air yesterday and there were claims rebels had seized control of Tripoli airport.

The city’s only functioning hospital is struggling to cope with the hundreds of casualties and doctors have called for locals to give blood and offer help.

The hospital is believed to be crippling under the pressure with a shortage of doctors and rubbish strewn on the floors. A medic pleaded: “Please, please tell the world we need help.”

It was reported two children are among those fighting for their lives in the hospital after being caught up in the violence.

An 11-year-old girl has a wound to the head from a sniper bullet and a three-year-old toddler has been treated for a bullet wound to her stomach.

Gaddafi was last heard from on Sunday when he called for civilians to take up arms against rebel “rats”. He claimed he was still in the city and would be “with you until the end”.

But there was little sign of popular opposition to the rebel offensive and many Libyan embassies have already hoisted the rebel flag in place Gaddafi’s.

In Scotland, Ahmed Elkesh, a 28-year-old Libyan, welcomed the end of the tyrant’s reign of terror. Mr Elkesh, who is studying for a Masters degree in Aquatic Veterinary Studies at Stirling University, said: “We’ve been waiting for this for such a long, long time and to see this happening last night is just an amazing feeling. I’m overwhelmed. I can’t find the words to describe my feelings.”

The student said he had been able to speak to his family in Tripoli for the first time in months on Sunday night after internet access was restored to the city. He said: “I spoke with my family and could hear gunfire in the background.

“They said there was intense fighting just outside our neighbourhood, which I believe is still going on. They were saying they wanted to keep inside the house and didn’t want to leave.

“They are okay, but have just revealed to me that one of my four brothers has been in jail for two months, and they don’t know anything about him.

“They didn’t want to tell me because they thought it might upset my studies. He was involved with the resistance and was distributing leaflets to encourage people to speak up against Gaddafi, but eventually he got caught. They’ve had no contact with him since.

“The freedom fighters are trying to find the prisoners and release them. They’re managing to get some but others are in very secret places and they’re still looking for them.”

Mr Elkesh, who arrived in Scotland last July, added: “People are very united -- they just want to get rid of Gaddafi.”

Rebel leader Mustafa Abdul Jalil, head of the National Transitional Council told a press conference in Benghazi on Sunday that the real moment of victory will be when Gaddafi is captured.

He said: “I can’t say the revolutionaries have complete control over Tripoli. Bab al-Azizyah and the surrounding areas are still outside our control, so we have no knowledge of whether he is there.”