Libyan rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) announced Thursday a one-week extension of the deadline for forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to surrender, Doha-based TV channel Al-Jazeera, reported.

The extension was meant to give the Gaddafi loyalists more time to consider laying down their weapons, the TV said.

The previous deadline, Sept. 3, was set by the NTC leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil on Tuesday for the Gaddafi loyalists in Sirte, the embattled leader's hometown.

Jalil said the rebels were in negotiation with local tribal elders over a peaceful handover of the town of Sirte. If the efforts failed by the deadline, he said, the rebels would resort to military means to enter the town.

Sirte, located between the capital Tripoli and the rebel base Benghazi, is being besieged by the rebel forces from east and west, according to Al-Jazeera.