gunfire and explosions rocked the capital today. rebels say they re making substantial gains in their fight to seize the capital. reuters reports thousands of rebels were seen closing in on tripoli today. nato says moammar gadhafi s regime is, quote, crumbling. the libyan government denies the rebels are making any gains. but a government official who asked not to be named concedes that parts of the capital and its suburbs are no longer in government hands. in an audio address broadcast on state tv today, gadhafi vowed to fight until, quote, the last blood drops from every man and woman. a fierce gun battle broke out today near the hotel where many international journalists are staying. cnn s senior international correspondent matthew chance joins us live by phone from tripoli. matthew, you were in that very hotel. tell us more about what s happening around it. reporter: fredricka, it s a very bad line. i don t know whether you can hear me right now. it s more than just a
they re advancing toward moammar gadhafi s compound. ro ro nato said today fwa daffy s regime is, quote, crumbling. the libyan government denies any rebel gains and in an audio address on state-run tv, gadhafi vowed to fight to the end. reporter: you remember the million marches. i am with you. alongside with you. in this fight. we will not we re not going to give way or give up. a fierce gun battle broke out today near a hotel where many international reporters are staying. cnn s senior international correspondent matthew chance joins us now from tripoli. you have been staying at that hotel. give me an idea what you and other journalists are feeling about your safety with the gunfire surrounding the hotel. reporter: we re holed up on to one of the upper floors at the hotel. the gunfire, fredricka, isn t just outside the perimeter of the hotel. it s all over the city. the whole city is in a kind of mayhem as armed groups, rebels, gadhafi loyalists battle it out on the