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Photo: Reuters

Libyan rebels claim to have taken Brega

Anti-government forces continue to advance, retake eastern Libyan city of Brega hours after recapturing Ajdabiya. Meanwhile, Gaddafi forces launch attacks on Misrata

Rebels battling Muammar Gaddafi's regime on Saturday told AFP they had retaken the eastern town of Brega just hours after recapturing the strategic city of Ajdabiya in eastern Libya.

 

"We are in the center of Brega," 80km west of Ajdabiya, rebel fighter Abdelsalam al-Maadani told AFP by telephone.

 

"Gaddafi's forces are on the retreat and should now be at Al-Bisher 30km west of Brega," he said, adding that the rebels "are also advancing towards this area".

 

A journalist travelling with them confirmed by telephone seeing rebel fighters in control of the centre of the oil town, and told AFP that government forces had completely withdrawn.

 

On March 13 the rebels abandoned Brega under heavy shelling from advancing government forces, and Libyan state television later that day declared the oil town "purged of the armed gangs".

 

Earlier on Saturday rebel forces had recaptured the key eastern town of Ajdabiya in their first significant victory since the launch of the Western-led air strikes a week ago.

 

Also Saturday, forces loyal to Gaddafi launched attacks on rebel-held Misrata from the west and the east, shelling the city's port with mortars and artillery, a rebel told Reuters.

 

"Gaddafi forces are attacking Misrata from the west and east side. (There is) heavy shelling," the rebel, called Saadoun, told Reuters by phone. From the west, he said tanks were advancing from the coastal road towards the city.

 

"They are also trying to bring in soldiers," he said.

 

"From the east, they are shelling with mortars and artillery the port and areas around it. There is the main fuel tank in the port which feeds the central part of the city."

 

AFP and Reuters contributed to this report

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.26.11, 19:57
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