Rebels Say Gadhafi Son Khamis Could Be Dead in Clash

Libyan rebels said Sunday that one of Moammar Gadhafi’s son, Khamis, whose death has been announced several times since the conflict erupted, may have been killed a day ago in a clash with rebels.

On Saturday, a brigade of rebel fighters in the city of Tarhuna, 80 kilometers southeast of the capital Tripoli "intercepted a military convoy which had several brand new Mercedes vehicles", rebel military spokesman Ahmed Omar Bani told reporters in Benghazi.

"As our fighters were trying to block the passing of the convoy, they were violently attacked and shot at," he said.

"The brigade in Tarhuna responded and hit two vehicles in the convoy, killing their occupants. We faced strong resistance (from the pro-Gadhafi convoy) to protect these two cars which is why they were totally destroyed and burned with their occupants caught in the crossfire," Bani said.

He said "it is very difficult to identify the charred bodies, but the soldiers captured on the spot told us that they were bodyguards of Khamis Gadhafi."

"At the moment, we are unable to identify with certainty the occupants, but we will notify you once we have information," Bani added.

In March and again in early August, the rebels had announced the death of Khamis in NATO raids. The information was immediately denied by the regime, and Khamis was subsequently seen on state television.

Khamis, 28, the youngest son of Gadhafi, commanded a brigade which was seen as the most effective and loyal force of the Libyan leader. Rebel fighters captured its base south of Tripoli in fierce fighting on Saturday.