Libyan opponents in fresh fighting west of Tripoli

Clashes pitting pro- and anti-Gaddafi forces erupted on Thursday in Ragdalin, a town held by old regime loyalists, 130 kilometres (80 miles) west of Tripoli, an officer with the National Transitional Council said.

"NTC military forces on Wednesday gave pro-Gaddafi troops in Ragdalin 24 hours to lay down their arms. But they made an incursion into the neighbouring town of Zuwarah and killed Fathi al-Idrissi, a pro-NTC commander, before falling back to Ragdalin," said Smail Atushi.

"Rebels have come from the towns of Yefren, Misrata, Zuwarah and Kabau to reinforce the attack launched on Thursday on Ragdalin where violent fighting is taking place with Gaddafi troops," said the NTC officer.

The NTC fighters "are battling some 900 soldiers of the former regime who had fled the mountains with tanks and heavy artillery to take refuge in Ragdalin and three neighbouring localities -- Al-Jmayl, Al-Asah and Al-Ajaylat," near the Tunisian border, he added.

Tripoli and most of Libya's other main cities are in the hands of the country's new authorities. Two pro-Gaddafi bastions, Sirte -- the hometown of the ousted colonel -- and Bani Walid have been under siege for weeks by the former rebels who have run into fierce resistance.