Libyan rebels have given Col. Muammar Gaddafi’s forces a deadline of Saturday to lay down their weapons or face intensified military action. The rebels’ National Transitional Council has issued the ultimatum to loyalists holed up in Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte. Rebel forces have surrounded the city in preparation for an assault. A top rebel leader, meanwhile, is claiming that Saadi Gaddafi, Muammar Gaddafi’s third son, is prepared to surrender. On Tuesday, a number of Gaddafi family members, including his second wife, were granted refuge in Algeria. A rebel commander, meanwhile, is claiming at least 50,000 Libyans have died in the nation’s conflict this year. Colonel Hisham Buhagiar said he had seen evidence of mass graves.

Col. Hisham Buhagiar: “They say, people say, about 50,000.”

Reporter: “Fifty thousand?”

Col. Buhagiar: “Yeah.”

Reporter: “Is it possible?”

Col. Buhagiar: “Yes, from both sides. From both sides, yes. I saw, in a picture, a graveyard in Misurata with numbers, that has 7,000 people who died, 7,000 graves. I think Misurata and Zlitan took the most toll. Maybe I would say around 15,000 to 17,000 in that area.”