Momentum.

(Al Jazeera) — Rebel spokesman says hometown of Muammar Gaddafi has fallen into their hands as they push westwards. Libyan rebels are claiming to have captured the town of Sirte, the home of embattled Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.

Shamsi Abdul Molah, a spokesman for the opposition’s National Council, told Al Jazeera that opposition forces had moved into the city at approximately 11.30pm last night (local time).

“They found it an unarmed city. They had no problem getting in there, they did not encounter any resistance,” reported Sue Turton, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Benghazi. Celebratory gunfire was head in Benghazi, the opposition’s stronghold in the east of the country, as news filtered in of the taking of Gaddafi’s hometown.

A column of military vehicles was seen leaving Sirte on Sunday, heading west towards the capital, Tripoli.

Clashes between pro- and anti-government forces continue in other areas, meanwhile. In Misurata, nine people were killed overnight by snipers and shelling by pro-Gaddafi forces, according to a doctor there.

The claim of the opposition taking Sirte, which could not be independently verified, came as their forces, bolstered by coalition air strikes, pushed westwards and seized control of the key towns of Bin Jawad, Ras Lanuf, Uqayla, Brega and Ajdabiya in a rapid advance along the coastline.

Coalition air strikes against targets in Tripoli also resumed on Sunday night with explosions heard in the Libyan capital.

Al Jazeera’s James Bays has been following the rebel offensive which has seen them claim a string of towns and key oil facilities since Friday.

Our correspondent said Gaddafi’s forces appeared to be withdrawing eastwards. Those still in Bin Jawad surrendered without a fight, Bays said.

“It seems there has a been withdrawal and a surrender of Gaddafi forces, not a battle,” Bays said. “They removed some of their vehicles that were not bombed further up the road but they removed these vehicles in haste.”

Rebels were intent on pressing onwards in the direction of Tripoli, Bays said.

The opposition’s National Council now says that it expecting a major battle to occur in the area around Tripoli, as opposed to at Sirte, where stiffer resistance had been expected.