Gaddafi's female soldiers – in pictures

Volunteers wave flags and guns and shout slogans in support of Gaddafi during a guided government tour for journalists Photograph: Mohamed Messara/EPA

Libyan women wear army fatigues in Tripoli Photograph: Mahmud Turkia/AFP/Getty Images

The event in Tripoli was billed as a graduation ceremony for women who had been given weapons training Photograph: Mahmud Turkia/AFP/Getty Images

It is not yet clear what role the newly-trained women will play militarily Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

A Gaddafi supporter holds up her gun Photograph: Imed Lamloum/AFP/Getty Images

A woman removes jammed ammunition while firing into the air Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

Women salute during their graduation ceremony Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

Women raise their fists in the air and cheer during the Tripoli ceremony Photograph: Mohamed Messara/EPA