Gaddafi forces retake towns near Libyan capital

Muammar Gaddafi's forces battled poorly armed rebels for control of towns near the capital trying to create a buffer zone around his seat of power. The increasingly violent clashes threatened to transform the 15-day popular rebellion in Libya into a drawn-out civil war.

Amid the intensified fighting, the international community on Tuesday stepped up moves to isolate the longtime Libyan leader. (AP)