Tripoli, Libya - Life in Libyan capital Tripoli and its suburbs is gradually returning to normal, in the aftermath of the swing into the capital by fighters of the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC.

The police have resumed road traffic and other services, in response to the call by the council.

Police patrols have also started in several areas in the capital, along with checkpoints run by armed youths who had seized huge quantities of small arms and trained volunteer units to protect neighborhoods.

Tripoli is also free from traffic jams that resulted from the huge number of cars that returned to the roads after the fuel situation improved.

Also, cleaning companies have resumed services, providing support in cleaning certain areas of the city.

Shop and vegetable markets have also re-opened, while dairy products imported from Tunisia have returned to the shelves, along with local products branded 'Nassim', manufactured from the factories in the famous city of Misurata (200km east of Tripoli). Prices remain very high, however.

While many bakeries in the outer suburbs resumed their activities in the early hours of Saturday, the bakeries in Tripoli and its suburbs are still closed due to severe water crisis in the capital.

But the water shortage has not prevented residents from enjoying their regular coffee sips.

Thousands of young Tripoli residents have also taken to the beaches to cool down, as temperatures soar to more than 40 degrees.

Pana 05/09/2011