Aid workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have delivered medical supplies to Sirte amid growing fears of an unfolding humanitarian disaster in the besieged hometown of Muammar Gaddafi, the ousted Libyan leader.

Mustafa Abdel Jalil, chairman of the ruling National Transitional Council (NTC), said on Friday that its forces had called a two-day truce to allow civilians to leave as people streamed out of Sirte by the hundreds.

But heavy rocket and mortar fire continued from both sides on Saturday, even though NTC commanders outside the town said they were trying to let civilians out.

NTC fighters in Sirte told the Reuters news agency that NATO planes had dropped flyers urging civilians to flee the fighting.

The prolonged battle for Sirte, encircled by anti-Gaddafi fighters and hit by regular NATO air strikes, has trapped people inside the town of about 100,000 through several fierce assaults over two weeks.

Fighting continued to the west and east of the town on Saturday. Loud thuds were heard coming from the town centre, and white smoke billowed into the sky while NATO planes roared overhead.

A truck carrying supplies and a car carrying European ICRC workers were allowed to pass checkpoints manned by fighters loyal to the NTC.

The ICRC delivered medical kits for treating up to 200 people wounded in the fighting to Sirte hospital, as well as fuel to run its generators, the organization said.

However, a team of four aid workers, who also had security clearance from pro-Gaddafi forces, were not able to go inside the hospital due to heavy gunfire, the spokesman said.

"They went to the hospital but were not able to see patients, they didn't go into the wards," Marcal Izard said.

Doctors at the hospital - which has no power - told the aid workers there were 200 patients inside.

"The conditions under which medical personnel have had to work over the past weeks have been extremely difficult," said Hichem Khadraoui, who headed the operation.

"The hospital is facing a huge influx of patients, medical supplies are running out and there is a desperate need for oxygen. On top of that, the water reservoir has been damaged."

In a statement, the ICRC reminded all parties of their "obligation under international humanitarian law to take all possible measures of precaution in order to spare civilian lives and allow safe access for medical personnel".

Heavy clashes

Libyan fighters say they have completely surrounded the coastal city and are engaged in heavy clashes with his loyalists in the city's streets.

Last week, the NTC's defence ministry said that Sirte's port, airport and military base were all under the control of its forces.

On Saturday, NTC forces in Sirte said they have captured the headquarters of the Saadi Gaddafi brigades, an army unit led by Gaddafi's third son.

Musatafa al-Rubaie, an NTC commander, told the Associated Press news agency that even though his fighters had surrounded Sirte from all sides, a path out had been left for civilians who still wanted to leave.

After weeks of fighting Gaddafi's loyalists inside Sirte, the fighters now hold positions about 5km from the city centre, he said.

'Mission largely complete'

The top US commander for Africa said on Saturday that the military mission in Libya was largely complete and NATO's involvement could begin to wrap up as soon as next week when allied leaders meet in Brussels.

Army General Carter Ham, head of US Africa Command, told AP that NATO ministers would review the situation and could decide to end the mission.

He said that US intelligence and surveillance assets, such as drones, would probably stay in the region for some time once the NATO mission ended, particularly to help the Libyan government with key issues such as border security and non-proliferation of weapons.

But he said air strikes would end, unless specifically requested by the Libyan transitional government.

PHOTO CAPTION

People fleeing from Sirte and neighbouring towns queue for fuel at a makeshift fuel station for anti-Gaddafi fighters and civilians about 60 km ( 37.3 miles) east of Sirte October 1, 2011

Al Jazeera