Libya's new leadership said Sunday its fighters had control of much of the Great Man-Made River that brings water from desert aquifers to the coastal cities, in good news for Tripoli.

"We have received a report that our revolutionaries have taken over the man-made river system. Thanks to God and thanks to our valiant revolutionaries there will be no water problem in the next few days," military spokesman Colonel Ahmed Omar Bani told a news conference.

Another official of the National Transitional Council, Shamseddin Ben Ali, said its forces now controlled wells in the region of Shwairif, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Misrata, and the reservoir that supplies Tripoli.

"They're getting the lines back up and running again," he said, expressing the hope that the capital's water problems would be resolved within days.

He added however that part of the system was still in the hands of forces loyal to fallen strongman Moamer Kadhafi.

Many of Tripoli's two million inhabitants have suffered water shortages since the capital was captured by anti-Kadhafi forces last month.

The UN's humanitarian coordinator for Libya, Panos Moumtzis, on Friday said the shortages are "serious" but not "critical" as he outlined plans to provide 11 million litres of drinking water.

NTC chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil has blamed sabotage for the cuts in supplies of water and electricity.

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