Conflicting Rumors Surround Gaddafi: Is he still in Libya?

Update- Saif Gaddafi is making a rambling speech as I write.

From the Atlantic Wire:

Tension have been mounting in Libya today, with rebel forces encircling Tripoli, causing Qaddafi to lose his grip, according to the New York Times. "By Saturday afternoon, the rebels had driven Colonel Qaddafi’s forces out of the strategic oil refinery town of Zawiyah, 30 miles west of Tripoli. After a week of heavy fighting there, residents began to celebrate in the main square." Although, in Tripoli, still a Qaddafi stronghold, government officials "continued to insist that they would fight to the end," the Times wrote that "rumors swept Libya that [Qaddafi] was preparing to flee, if he had not already."

Now the rumors are turning into unconfirmed reports. NBC New Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel tweeted: "BREAKING: Libyan TV reporting Qaddafi has fled with two sons." He added: "odd no reports of seif having fled, only hanibam was moatasim," in reference to his sons. Other reports on Twitter are that Qaddafi left "aboard a private aircraft with two of his sons." One source also indicated that Al-Jazeera wrote that Qaddafi "reportedly" left for Italy, although there is no mention of this on its Libya liveblog yet (only that a top Qaddafi aide fled to Italy). Reports of Qaddafi's departure are still unconfirmed. More recently, Engel tweeted that "Rebels themselves don't know if reports of qaddafi's departure are true. 'we hope' they say..."

News of the intensity in Libya continues to come in from all news sources. CNN reports that rebels have in fact entered Tripoli, with heavy clashes, intense gunfire, and explosions. (Although Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told state television: "All of Tripoli is safe and stable.") Reuters tweeted "Tripoli residents receive text messages urging them to 'go out into streets to eliminate agents with weapons," says resident."

And from Twitter, NBC reporter Richard Engel reports:

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