A spokesman for Libyan rebels said the city of Misrata was freed from Muammar Gaddafi's forces on Saturday after a siege of Libya's third-largest city lasting nearly two months.

There was no independent confirmation, but Libyan troops captured by rebels in Misrata said the army had been ordered to retreat and the Libyan government said earlier that local tribes would take over the battle from the army.

'Misrata is free, the rebels have won. Of Gaddafi's forces, some are killed and others are running away,' rebel spokesman Gemal Salem told Reuters by telephone from the city.

Salem said that although Gaddafi's forces had pulled out of Misrata, they remained outside and would be in a position to bombard it.

The last large city held by rebels in western Libya, Misrata has been under government siege for nearly two months. Hundreds of civilians have died in the fighting.

Salem said the goal of the rebels in Misrata was now to help those in other areas in western Libya against Gaddafi's forces.

He said that rebels were now combing Misrata and clearing the streets. Before leaving, he said, Gaddafi's forces had booby-trapped bodies, houses and cars.

'One man was opening his fridge when he went to his house after the Gaddafi forces left it this morning and it blew up in his face. Bodies the same. When the rebels are trying to lift a body it blows up,' he said. 'We have had three people killed because of that and 15 wounded.'

Libyan troops captured by rebels in Misrata said the army had been ordered to retreat from the western port.

The Libyan government said earlier Nato air strikes meant it no longer made sense for the army to fight in Misrata and local tribes would take over the battle. – Reuters