Tripoli, Aug 22 (IANS): Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has pledged not to surrender in an audio speech broadcast Sunday, even as fighting between his forces and the rebels continued in and around the capital Tripoli, Al Jazeera TV channel reported.

Gaddafi said he was in Tripoli and would defend the city. He called on his supporters to defend the capital city from the rebels and pledged to "emerge victorious" rather than surrender.

Fierce see-saw battles were going on near Tripoli's international airport and a military camp, Libyan rebels military spokesman Ahmed Bani told Xinhua.

Bani said the rebels have controlled the Friday Market in Tripoli and are fighting for several other areas, including the Mitiga airbase, headquarters of the state TV and broadcasting station.

Rebel forces from Misrata have arrived in Tripoli by sea and thrown themselves into the battles in the capital city, Bani said.

He said there will be more rebel soldiers coming from Zawiya, Surman and Gharyan to join the battle.