Troops loyal to Moammar Gadhafi besieged the rebel-held city of Zawiya for a fifth day Tuesday, part of renewed assaults aimed at reclaiming ground lost since the uprising against the Libyan leader began last month.
Rebel officials in Zawiya, 50 kilometers west of Tripoli, say dozens of people have been killed and hundreds wounded, including women and children. Eyewitnesses said the city – which suffers from severe shortages of food and medicine – came under heavy mortar fire. Residents who escaped in the past two days said the city hospital has been overwhelmed with dead and wounded.
The various reports could not be independently confirmed because electricity, phone and Internet services in Zawiya have all been cut.
To the east, much of which is under opposition control, Libyan warplanes carried out several airstrikes on anti-government positions around the key oil port of Ras Lanuf. The city was bombed heavily as pro-Gadhafi forces targeted the town's water reservoir among other installations. But as of late Tuesday, rebel officials said they still controlled the area.
Anti-government forces are seeking to recapture the city of Bin Jawad, 160 kilometers east of Mr. Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte, after pulling out in the face of reinforced government troops.
Rebel officials in Zawiya, 50 kilometers west of Tripoli, say dozens of people have been killed and hundreds wounded, including women and children. Eyewitnesses said the city – which suffers from severe shortages of food and medicine – came under heavy mortar fire. Residents who escaped in the past two days said the city hospital has been overwhelmed with dead and wounded.
The various reports could not be independently confirmed because electricity, phone and Internet services in Zawiya have all been cut.
Anti-government forces are seeking to recapture the city of Bin Jawad, 160 kilometers east of Mr. Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte, after pulling out in the face of reinforced government troops.
Opposition leaders based in the eastern city of Benghazi initially suggested they made an amnesty offer to Mr. Gadhafi, but later denied any back-channel negotiations were under way. A spokesman for the rebel National Libyan Council, Abdul Hafidh Ghoga, said the group is not prepared to negotiate.
Ghoga called again for foreign powers to impose a no-fly zone over Libya and effectively ground Mr. Gadhafi's air force.
Rebel representatives said they have had contacts with some foreign governments, and have sent envoys to several European cities seeking support. An Italian diplomatic delegation was in Benghazi Tuesday meeting with opposition leaders. it was the first official public visit by Western diplomats since the establishment of the provisional rebel government.
But activists say the Benghazi council's authority remains tentative and has yet to unite with disparate, divided opposition groups abroad.
A council official told European officials Monday that Mr. Gadhafi is relying on his air force because he lacks adequate ground troops to put down the uprising. Mahmoud Jebril said the Libyan leader relies largely on security brigades led by his sons and loyal officers.
http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/03/09/gadhafi-forces-continue-to-besiege-zawiya/
Ghoga called again for foreign powers to impose a no-fly zone over Libya and effectively ground Mr. Gadhafi's air force.
Rebel representatives said they have had contacts with some foreign governments, and have sent envoys to several European cities seeking support. An Italian diplomatic delegation was in Benghazi Tuesday meeting with opposition leaders. it was the first official public visit by Western diplomats since the establishment of the provisional rebel government.
But activists say the Benghazi council's authority remains tentative and has yet to unite with disparate, divided opposition groups abroad.
A council official told European officials Monday that Mr. Gadhafi is relying on his air force because he lacks adequate ground troops to put down the uprising. Mahmoud Jebril said the Libyan leader relies largely on security brigades led by his sons and loyal officers.
http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/03/09/gadhafi-forces-continue-to-besiege-zawiya/
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