Libyan rebels arrived in Tripoli by sea from the coastal rebel strongholds of Misurata and Zlitan to support opposition fighters trying to seize control of the capital, a rebel spokesman said Sunday, dpa reported.
More rebels advanced against forces loyal to leader Moamer Gaddafi on land, coming with 27 kilometres of Tripoli's eastern gate.
Fresh clashes between the rebels and Gaddafi's forces erupted within Tripoli Sunday, as rebels tried to seize other parts of Tripoli after taking control of at least four areas.
At least 123 rebels were killed in the Tajoura area alone. Several people were also killed in al-Sareem in central Tripoli where snipers were firing indiscriminately, broadcaster Al-Jazeera reported.
The report quoted the rebels as saying that Gaddafi's troops had also shelled a mosque in the centre of the capital from where announcements praising the advancing insurgents were being made through the loudspeaker.
NATO reported Sunday that it had concentrated its military deployment on Tripoli the previous day, with fighter jets attacking 22 targets.
Spokesman Colonel Roland Lavoie denied there were any coordinated efforts between the alliance and the rebels.
NATO had reduced the strength of Gaddafi's troops in order to fulfill the United Nations mandate to prevent attacks on civilians, and the opposition simply took advantage of the situation to good effect, Lavoie said.
Earlier Sunday, a Tripoli resident told the German Press Agency dpa that people could not leave their homes and could hear continuous heavy gunfire.
He added that rumours were circulating that Gaddafi had left Tripoli for the Libyan-Algerian border.
Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama was Sunday briefed on the situation in Libya by counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, including inputs from US teams in Benghazi, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said.
Obama is currently on vacation on Martha's Vineyard.
"The national security team will continue to provide updates to the president on this situation, as necessary. The United States continues to communicate closely with our allies, partners, and the National Transitional Council. We believe that (Gaddafi's) days are numbered, and that the Libyan people deserve a just, democratic and peaceful future," Earnest said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told broadcaster ZDF Sunday, "it would be good if he (Gaddafi) gave up as soon as possible, to avoid further bloodshed Germany would continue to support the Libyan people."
During the overnight clashes in Tripoli, Gaddafi lashed out at European countries and the rebels in an audio message, accusing them of being after the country's oil wealth.
"What did we do to France, Britain, Norway or Denmark? You want to give the oil of Libyan people to the French - (President Nicolas) Sarkozy wants our oil," Gaddafi said in his speech aired on state television.
He described the rebels and countries calling for his ouster as "rats, donkeys," and said NATO was collapsing.
Shortly after, state television aired a recorded speech by his son, Saif al-Islam, in which he vowed not to surrender and described the rebel claims of military victories against the government forces as "illusionary gains."
"NATO lost all battles against us," he told a group of young Libyans.
A state television presenter appeared in a broadcast, holding a gun and saying she and her colleagues were ready to die while defending the station.
"With this weapon, I either kill or die today, you will not take Libiya channel, Jamahiriyah channel, Shababiyah channel, Tripoli or any of Libya," she said.
"We are all ready with guns and those who do not have a weapon are ready to be human shields to protect their colleagues here," she said.
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