Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces have encircled the western town of Zawiya after being pushed back by rebels earlier today, according to reports, while rebels captured the oil port of Ras Lanouf.
"Zawiyah is encircled by Gaddafi's forces, there are a lot of checkpoints. They are tightening their grip on the centre," a Reuters journalist said, adding government forces were manning checkpoints some two miles from the centre of town.
"Access to central Zawiyah is completely blocked," she said.
Youssef Shagan, the rebel force spokesman in Zawiya said, earlier, "They entered Az Zawiya at six in the morning with heavy forces, hundreds of soldiers with tanks. Our people fought back ... We have won for now and civilians are gathering in the square,"
"We captured 3 APCs, two tanks and one pick-up after an hour and a half of fighting. A lot of civilians fled when the fighting started," he said, adding that there were government snipers in the town.
Earlier reports said Gaddafi's forces had reasserted broad control of the Mediterranean coastal town, 30 miles west of the capital Tripoli but had run into rebel resistance in a central square.
A rebel fighter in central Zawiya told Reuters by phone that Gaddafi's forces were re-grouping at the entrance of the town after being pushed back this morning.
"Gaddafi will never enter this city. He will never set foot here. The only way for him to enter the city is when we are all dead. He has to kill us all to control the city," said the rebel, who gave his name as Ibrahim.
He has to kill us....
. Protesters win battle near Libyan capital
Anti-regime protesters say they have repelled an attack by forces loyal to embattled Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi in Zawiyah, about 50 km west of the capital, Tripoli.
Earlier on Saturday, Gaddafi forces attacked the city with armored vehicles and tanks, trying to retake it from protesters.
"They entered Zawiyah at six in the morning with heavy forces, hundreds of soldiers with tanks. Our people fought back ...We have won for now and civilians are gathering in the square," Reuters quoted Youssef Shagan, the anti-regime spokesman in Zawiyah as saying.
On Friday, they used heavy artillery against protesters, killing dozens.
Fierce fighting also continues between opposition groups and regime forces in several Libyan cities.
Meanwhile, armed protesters have taken control of the oil-rich city of Ras Lanuf after heavy fighting, which reportedly left at least eight people dead.
In Benghazi, 27 people were killed and dozens more were wounded after the regime used warplanes to bomb a weapons depot near the city.
The protests have spread to Tripoli, which is Gaddafi's stronghold.
Clashes erupted in the city after Gaddafi's loyalists fired teargas to disperse demonstrators.
Meanwhile, Libya's self-declared opposition council is set to hold its first formal meeting to discuss the overthrow of Gaddafi.
Rebels hit back in fierce battle for Libyan town
Reports of 70 dead, 300 wounded in two days of fighting; rebels claim to have driven back attack by Gadhafi loyalists
dead ... after ferocious battle
"They entered Zawiya at six in the morning with heavy forces, hundreds of soldiers with tanks. Our people fought back ...We have won for now and civilians are gathering in the square," rebel spokesman Youssef Shagan told Reuters.
Fresh loyalist forces were being sent toward the town, the rebels said.
The Italian news agency AGI reported at least 70 people had been killed and 300 wounded Friday and Saturday in Zawiya, citing rebel sources in Benghazi
Protesters capture Gaddafi hometown
Latest reports say Libyan revolutionary forces and protesters, heading eastward from the west of the country, have captured Muammar Gaddafi's hometown of Sirt.
The city had been held by troops loyal to the embattled Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi since the revolution began more than two weeks ago but fell into the hand of protesters on Saturday.
Opposition forces also say they have downed two helicopters belonging to the forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi near Ras Lanuf and Ben Jawad.
Revolutionary fighters are in control of the oil-rich city of Ras Lanuf. They captured the city after heavy fighting, which reportedly left at least eight people dead.
These latest developments come as reports of fresh fighting have emerged from Libya's western city of Zawiyah.
Heavy gunfire can be heard with pro-Gaddafi tanks firing at houses in Zawiyah, 50 kilometers from the capital, Tripoli.
Witnesses say opposition forces have set pro-Gaddafi tanks on fire and arrested a number of their forces.
This comes a few hours after the opposition repelled an attack by pro-Gaddafi forces to retake the city.
At least 30 people, including women and children, have been killed.
Gaddafi forces storm hospital in Zawiya
Forces loyal to embattled Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi have stormed a hospital and gunned down several people near the capital as revolutionary forces shot down two helicopters in the north.
The regime forces backed by tanks launched a fresh assault in Zawiya, 50 Kilometers west of Tripoli, on Saturday, opening heavy mortar fire on houses and raiding a hospital.
Fresh fighting comes hours after revolutionary forces repelled an effort by government forces to retake the city.
The opposition says forces loyal to Gaddafi were pushed back and left the center of the city early on Saturday following heavy overnight fighting.
Witnesses say opposition forces set a number of tanks on fire and arrested some Gaddafi forces.
However, pro-Gaddafi forces have reportedly encircled Zawiyah preparing for fresh attacks.
Fighting has been going on since Friday. At least 30 people, including women and children, have been killed.
Meanwhile, armed protesters are now in charge of the oil-rich city of Ras Lanuf, after a heavy fighting, which reportedly left at least eight people dead.
Opposition forces say they have downed two helicopters belonging to the Gaddafi regime near Ras Lanuf and Ben Jawad.
US losing power game in Middle East
The popular uprising in the Middle East which set off from Tunisia and Egypt is steadily encompassing the whole Arab world.
This indicates the fact that the United States and its European cronies are losing their last hopes in the region and approaching a dead-end which brings them nothing but disappointment and regret.
Following the dissolution of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's government which was an unexpected shock for the White House, the awakened people of Egypt ousted the unflappable dictator Hosni Mubarak who had long served as a stooge of the United States in the Middle East, implemented the plans and policies of Washington and Tel Aviv and suppressed the Palestinian nation in a brutal way.
... at last!
Iran Navy overcomes Israel at sea - Sat Mar 5, 2011 6:34PM
Alvand - Iranian warship
A commander says during the Iranian naval mission in the Mediterranean the Israeli navy attempted to make contact at sea but was given a crushing response.
A two-vessel Iranian naval group received threatening signals from the Israeli navy, while sailing through Egypt's Suez Canal towards the Syrian coast in the Mediterranean.
“They (Israelis) mounted pressure in Egypt and even Syria to prevent necessary coordination with us from taking place,” Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari was quoted by Fars News Agency as saying on Saturday.
“[They] even threatened [us] during the journey and tried to portray [the situation in] the region as dangerous but we paid no attention,” he added.
“Even at sea, Zionist (Israeli) forces asked our naval group to introduce itself, to which our naval group responded by saying, 'Shut up! It is none of your business' and then, ignoring the request from the Zionist regime [of Israel], it (the naval group) continued on its course.”
He hailed the Navy's reaction as a “determined response.”
No comments:
Post a Comment