Rebels on the run appeal for arms as Gaddafi forces take back key oil town

What you need to know:

  • Western powers head into talks in Brussels split on how best to address Libya crisis

Ajdabiya, Friday

Libyan rebels appealed for arms as they today sent fighters into battle against Muammar Gaddafi’s advancing forces, as France and Britain urged targeted strikes in the oil-rich country.

Fighting in Ras Lanuf, a key oil hub in eastern Libya now the frontline in a bloody uprising against Gaddafi, flared again Friday after a fierce battle the day before, rebels said.

Rebel fighters delayed journalists from heading towards the area from the town of Ajdabiya, so it was unclear how far Gaddafi’s men had pushed east along the coast.

“We don’t know exactly what is happening in Ras Lanuf, but we’ve heard there is still fighting,” said Salem Abdulrahman, a bearded young fighter in fatigues and a keffiya scarf, driving a pick-up carrying an anti-aircraft gun.

“So we’re going up there. We’re going to fight, and we’re going to win,” he declared, as cars and pick-ups ferried fighters to the front, hoping to stop Gaddafi consolidating a hold on the town and its key oil facilities.

An AFP reporter saw about two dozen trucks heading towards Ras Lanuf after rebels finally allowed journalists to leave Ajdabiya, initially restricting their access for “security reasons.”

“We didn’t get any orders to come up, but we’re coming anyway. There are some of Gaddafi’s guys in Ras Lanuf and we hope to get them out,” said Saleh Massoud, in a truck of rebels with an anti-aircraft gun mounted on the back.

One rebel commander claimed his troops had already driven the army from Ras Lanuf, but a medic in contact with fighters on the ground said they were outgunned there and down to isolated pockets of resistance.

“At the moment it’s 10 dead and dozens injured from Thursday’s fighting, and that’s likely to rise significantly. We believe there are many more bodies in the area,” Doctor Salem Langhi told AFP from the front line town of Brega.

“Ambulances have not been allowed to go there to Ras Lanuf; the army is blocking the road,” he said, referring to Gaddafi loyalists, which shelled the town on Thursday and drove off rebels who overran it a week ago.

“We have been told by the rebel fighters that there are still pockets of resistance in Ras Lanuf, and there is still some fighting, but as of now the army is in control of the area,” Langhi said.

State television said Thursday that loyalists had “purged” Ras Lanuf. AFP journalists in the town saw rebel forces in full retreat and army tanks advancing five kilometres (three miles) east of the city.

Late Thursday, Gaddafi’s son Seif al-Islam said victory was in sight against the rebels fighting his father’s regime.

“We’re coming,” Seif told a meeting of young supporters, referring to the advance of government forces towards the eastern rebel bastion of Benghazi, Libya’s second city.

Medics say 400 people have died and 2,000 more been wounded in eastern Libya since February 17.

And the United Nations said more than 250,000 people had now fled the fighting in Libya since the revolt against Gaddafi started.

Gaddafi’s forces on Wednesday captured Zawiyah, the site of major oil installations 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Tripoli, using artillery and tanks to drive the rebels from the city after several days’ fighting.

With its fighters in retreat, the opposition appealed to the international community to intervene.

“The Libyans are being cleansed by Gaddafi’s air force,” Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the head of Libya’s rebel national Council, told the BBC World Service.
“We asked for a no-fly zone to be imposed from day one,” he added.

“We also want a sea embargo and we urgently need some arms and we also need humanitarian assistance and medicines to be sent to the cities besieged by Gaddafi troops.”

The appeal came as Western powers on Friday headed into crisis talks in Brussels divided over how best to address the crisis in Libya.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said ahead of the EU summit that France and Britain favour targeted strikes in Libya in case Gaddafi uses chemical weapons or air strikes against his people.

Sarkozy said Paris had “many reservations” on military or NATO intervention in Libya “because Arab revolutions belong to Arabs.”

But he and British Prime Minister David Cameron were “ready on condition that the UN wishes, that the Arab League accepts and the Libyan opposition agrees, for targeted actions if Mr Gaddafi uses chemical weapons or air strikes against peaceful citizens.” (AFP)