"There has been very significant gains by the National Transitional Council forces. This is a gradual process of putting the pressure on the capital," he told BBC News.
"Our understanding has always been that there would not be an uprising in the capital until people were fairly sure on the ground that there would be some support available from those outside.
"Clearly there are forces that have been waiting in Tripoli for the opportunity to express their opposition to the regime.
"The forces of the National Transitional Council clearly are much closer to Tripoli than they have ever been. They have turned their attention there in an effort to free the Libyan people from the attacks that have been made upon them by the Gaddafi regime over so many months."
Mr Burt said that attempts had been made by United Nations envoys to open negotiations with the regime but most efforts had been rebuffed.
"It has been clear that Gaddafi does not have a firm grip on reality and has not been interested in leading or negotiating," he said.
He disclosed that eight or nine of the "relatively small" number of British nationals remaining would be leaving on a ship for Malta on Sunday.
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