In
Libya, convoys of jubilant rebel forces are pushing westwards
into the heartland of the Gaddafi regime. It comes after
they reportedly took control of the eastern coastal towns
of Ras Lanuf, Brega and Uqayla. Pressure from the allied
airstrikes forced government forces to fall back. |
Libyan
rebels are advancing on Muammar Gaddafi's home town, Sirte,
after retaking all the ground lost in earlier fighting as
government forces broke and fled under western air strikes.
Revolutionary
forces rapidly moved more than 250 km west along Libya's
coastal road, seizing several towns without resistance,
as the first witness accounts emerged of the devastating
effect on Gaddafi's army and militia of the aerial bombardment
that broke their resistance at Ajdabiya on Saturday.
Today, rebels retook the important oil towns of Brega, Ras
Lanuf and Ben Jawad, and continued on the open desert road
toward Sirte, about 150 km away.
The key focus in the battle for western Libya has now shifted
to Misrata.It is the rebels’ only outpost in the west
of the country, and has been under government assault for
days now.
Coalition air strikes are thought to be targeting sites
in the west of Libya, Gaddafi’s stronghold of Sirte
and Misrata.
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