Rebels surround Libyan capital
Source: Agencies |
August 21, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
REBELS are fighting battles in coastal cities on either side of the besieged Libyan capital Tripoli in a drive to topple Moammar Gadhafi after six months of war.
Mortar and rocket rounds crashed yesterday into the center of Zawiya, a city on the coastal highway 50 kilometers west of Tripoli that the rebels captured this week in one of the boldest advances of their uprising.
Shells struck the central hospital around dawn, blasting holes in the walls and inside were scenes of destruction. There was fighting around the hospital on Friday.
In the central square, residents were burning and stamping on a green Gadhafi flag. "Gadhafi is finished. Civilians are starting to come back to the cities. Libya is finally free," said one, who gave his name as Abu Khaled.
The rebels' capture of Zawiya has transformed the conflict by cutting Tripoli off from its main road link to the outside world, putting unprecedented pressure on the 41-year rule of Gadhafi.
Rebels said the main Gadhafi force had retreated about 10km east to the town of Jaddayim, close to Tripoli's outskirts, and were shelling Zawiya from there.
East of the capital, where fighting has been bloodier and rebel advances far slower, opposition forces fought street battles in the city of Zlitan but suffered heavy casualties, a Reuters reporter said. A rebel spokesman said 32 rebel fighters were killed and 150 wounded.
Gadhafi's spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said late on Friday government forces retained the upper hand in both Zawiya and Zlitan. The sudden imposition of a siege around Tripoli has trapped its residents behind the front line and cut it off from fuel and food.
Mortar and rocket rounds crashed yesterday into the center of Zawiya, a city on the coastal highway 50 kilometers west of Tripoli that the rebels captured this week in one of the boldest advances of their uprising.
Shells struck the central hospital around dawn, blasting holes in the walls and inside were scenes of destruction. There was fighting around the hospital on Friday.
In the central square, residents were burning and stamping on a green Gadhafi flag. "Gadhafi is finished. Civilians are starting to come back to the cities. Libya is finally free," said one, who gave his name as Abu Khaled.
The rebels' capture of Zawiya has transformed the conflict by cutting Tripoli off from its main road link to the outside world, putting unprecedented pressure on the 41-year rule of Gadhafi.
Rebels said the main Gadhafi force had retreated about 10km east to the town of Jaddayim, close to Tripoli's outskirts, and were shelling Zawiya from there.
East of the capital, where fighting has been bloodier and rebel advances far slower, opposition forces fought street battles in the city of Zlitan but suffered heavy casualties, a Reuters reporter said. A rebel spokesman said 32 rebel fighters were killed and 150 wounded.
Gadhafi's spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said late on Friday government forces retained the upper hand in both Zawiya and Zlitan. The sudden imposition of a siege around Tripoli has trapped its residents behind the front line and cut it off from fuel and food.
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