Libyan rebels have made gains in the western front, increasing pressure on embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi forces.
Libyan rebels have made gains in the western front, increasing pressure on embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi forces.
The fighters launched a two-pronged offensive in the towns of Gharyan and Az-Zawiyah on Saturday, in a bid to cut off the southern coastal route from Tunisia that Gaddafi uses for supplies.
Opposition gunmen said they controlled Gharyan after Gaddafi's soldiers withdrew. However, regime forces returned several hours later and clashes continued.
Meanwhile, the fight for control of Az-Zawiyah raged along the coastal highway and at the gates of the city.
For its part, the Libyan authorities rejected the rebels’ claims, with government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said: “Az-Zawiyah is completely under our control. A very small group of rebels tried to enter from the south of Az-Zawiyah but they were stopped easily by our armed forces."
Also on the western front, opposition commanders said they had control of the town of Tawurgha as they pushed to cut supply routes to forces loyal to Gaddafi.
In a symbolic show of victory, fighters tore down green flags that had been hoisted atop buildings by Gaddafi supporters who had occupied the area.
"Gaddafi is finished!" shouted a jubilant 31-year-old fighter named Mohammed. "There is no way back. We have taken Tawurgha!"
EASTERN FRONT
On the other hand, and in the eastern front of Brega, rebels said they had seized ground in the oil town.
"We have taken control of residential area number 2, after number 3 yesterday," out of four zones, a military spokesman, Mohammed Zawiwa, told AFP. "The pipe factory has fallen into our hands today."
The rebels' claims of taking over Brega were also denied by government officials.
Opposition forces hope that by taking complete control of the city, its oil terminal and sea port will allow them to resume oil exports.
“NATO PLANNING TO RAID TUNISIAN BORDER”
Furthermore, Ibrahim said NATO was planning raids on Ras Jedir, a border post with Tunisia, in order to open way for rebels to advance.
We have information that NATO is planning intensive bombardments of the Ras Jedir border post to help the armed bands, some of whom are positioned on the Tunisian side, to enter Libyan territory”, Ibrahim told AFP news agency.
He described the North Atlantic alliance’s intentions as “very dangerous,” pointing out that Ras Jedir was a crossing point for “thousands of Libyans, including women and children.”
“By bombing it, NATO will be committing a new massacre”.
