RELATED:Libya rebels regroup in attempt to reclaim coastal city'Rebels in Libya capture British special forces'Government forces pushed the insurgents out of Bin Jawad – a town they had captured just the day before – on the road to Sirte, Gaddafi’s hometown and a prize they are keen to capture. Hundreds of rebels in pickups and vehicles suddenly tore back at high-speed to the key rebel-held oil town of Ras Lanuf, with many saying they feared an army advance. It was their second retreat from the town in a day.“Gaddafi’s cut us to pieces. He’s firing on us with tanks and missiles. I don’t know what we’re going to do now,” one rebel said.Rebels surrounded by Gaddafi troops near the center of Zawiyah, 50 km. west of Tripoli, faced another onslaught on Sunday after repelling two major assaults by tanks and infantry the day before.“This morning, there was a new attack, bigger than yesterday. There were one and a half hours of fighting... Two people were killed from our side and many more injured,” a rebel spokesman said by telephone. “We are still in full control of the square,” he added.Government spokesmen proclaimed a series of swift victories and Gaddafi loyalists poured into the streets of Tripoli at daybreak to fire weapons into the air, holding portraits of the leader who has led the OPEC oil and gas producer for 41 years.Loyalist forces appear determined to keep a tight grip on Tripoli. Members of Libya’s 32nd Brigade, led by Gaddafi’s son Khamis, were stationed at checkpoints in and around Tripoli. The 32nd is the most elite of three “regime protection units,” which together total about 10,000 men, US officials said. The three units are the only armed forces directly loyal to Gaddafi.“These are celebrations because government forces have taken control of all areas to Benghazi and are in the process of taking control of Benghazi,” spokesman Mussa Ibrahim said in Tripoli, referring to Libya’s second city, situated in the far east. But the celebrations appeared to be premature as Benghazi remained firmly under rebel control.Gaddafi’s elite brigades also launched an assault on Misrata, 200 km. east of the capital.“The brigades tried to reach the center of the town but revolutionaries managed to repel them. They retreated to the air base,” a resident said. “The revolutionaries captured 20 soldiers and seized a tank. The town is now fully in the control of the youths.”
Gaddafi’s troops gain in Libya as civil war looms
Insurgents pushed back near leader’s hometown; "Gaddafi’s cut us to pieces"; Hague says UK diplomatic team forced to leave Libya.
RELATED:Libya rebels regroup in attempt to reclaim coastal city'Rebels in Libya capture British special forces'Government forces pushed the insurgents out of Bin Jawad – a town they had captured just the day before – on the road to Sirte, Gaddafi’s hometown and a prize they are keen to capture. Hundreds of rebels in pickups and vehicles suddenly tore back at high-speed to the key rebel-held oil town of Ras Lanuf, with many saying they feared an army advance. It was their second retreat from the town in a day.“Gaddafi’s cut us to pieces. He’s firing on us with tanks and missiles. I don’t know what we’re going to do now,” one rebel said.Rebels surrounded by Gaddafi troops near the center of Zawiyah, 50 km. west of Tripoli, faced another onslaught on Sunday after repelling two major assaults by tanks and infantry the day before.“This morning, there was a new attack, bigger than yesterday. There were one and a half hours of fighting... Two people were killed from our side and many more injured,” a rebel spokesman said by telephone. “We are still in full control of the square,” he added.Government spokesmen proclaimed a series of swift victories and Gaddafi loyalists poured into the streets of Tripoli at daybreak to fire weapons into the air, holding portraits of the leader who has led the OPEC oil and gas producer for 41 years.Loyalist forces appear determined to keep a tight grip on Tripoli. Members of Libya’s 32nd Brigade, led by Gaddafi’s son Khamis, were stationed at checkpoints in and around Tripoli. The 32nd is the most elite of three “regime protection units,” which together total about 10,000 men, US officials said. The three units are the only armed forces directly loyal to Gaddafi.“These are celebrations because government forces have taken control of all areas to Benghazi and are in the process of taking control of Benghazi,” spokesman Mussa Ibrahim said in Tripoli, referring to Libya’s second city, situated in the far east. But the celebrations appeared to be premature as Benghazi remained firmly under rebel control.Gaddafi’s elite brigades also launched an assault on Misrata, 200 km. east of the capital.“The brigades tried to reach the center of the town but revolutionaries managed to repel them. They retreated to the air base,” a resident said. “The revolutionaries captured 20 soldiers and seized a tank. The town is now fully in the control of the youths.”