Libyan Rebels Push West as Coalition Strikes Hit Gadhafi Forces
Libyan rebels based in the country's east have pushed farther west after recapturing two eastern towns with the help of Western-led airstrikes that forced pro-government troops to stage a hasty retreat.
The rebels reached the town of Al-Egila Sunday and continued moving west toward the key eastern oil port of Ras Lanouf. A day earlier, they had taken control of the eastern oil port of Brega and the nearby town of Ajdabiya, two areas they had lost to the forces of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi more than a week ago.
Some rebels told Western news agencies Sunday that they also recaptured Ras Lanouf and reached Bin Jawad -- the farthest point to the west that the opposition fighters had reached before a government counter-offensive pushed them back earlier this month. The rebels' claims could not be independently verified.
Elsewhere, the French military said its warplanes destroyed five Libyan government planes and two helicopters in Misrata, the main rebel-held city in the country's west. Coalition jets also carried out attacks near the capital, Tripoli - the stronghold of Mr. Gadhafi.
A Western-led coalition has been carrying out air and missile strikes on Libyan government forces since March 19 to enforce a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing all necessary measures to protect Libyan civilians from government attacks.
The airstrikes have enabled Libyan rebels to regain momentum from the government after they began an uprising last month against Mr. Gadhafi's 42-rule.
Libyan government officials announced plans Saturday to pursue diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. There have been no reports of progress since the announcement.
A delegation representing Mr. Gadhafi said Friday his government is ready to implement an African Union-proposed "road map" toward a settlement of the conflict.
Libyan government officials met with envoys from five other African nations in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday. African Union members called for a cease-fire in Libya and an end to Western-led coalition airstrikes and naval blockades of the North African state.
On Saturday, the United States praised the African Union for convening a conference of world powers in Addis Ababa on Friday to discuss the situation in Libya. A State Department spokesman said the AU has a key role to play in resolving the crisis.
The conference called for a democratic transition period leading to elections in Libya. Libyan officials were barred from the conference when a Libyan rebel group failed to attend.
fuente: http://www.voanews.com/
The rebels reached the town of Al-Egila Sunday and continued moving west toward the key eastern oil port of Ras Lanouf. A day earlier, they had taken control of the eastern oil port of Brega and the nearby town of Ajdabiya, two areas they had lost to the forces of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi more than a week ago.
Some rebels told Western news agencies Sunday that they also recaptured Ras Lanouf and reached Bin Jawad -- the farthest point to the west that the opposition fighters had reached before a government counter-offensive pushed them back earlier this month. The rebels' claims could not be independently verified.
Elsewhere, the French military said its warplanes destroyed five Libyan government planes and two helicopters in Misrata, the main rebel-held city in the country's west. Coalition jets also carried out attacks near the capital, Tripoli - the stronghold of Mr. Gadhafi.
A Western-led coalition has been carrying out air and missile strikes on Libyan government forces since March 19 to enforce a U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing all necessary measures to protect Libyan civilians from government attacks.
The airstrikes have enabled Libyan rebels to regain momentum from the government after they began an uprising last month against Mr. Gadhafi's 42-rule.
Libyan government officials announced plans Saturday to pursue diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. There have been no reports of progress since the announcement.
A delegation representing Mr. Gadhafi said Friday his government is ready to implement an African Union-proposed "road map" toward a settlement of the conflict.
Libyan government officials met with envoys from five other African nations in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, on Friday. African Union members called for a cease-fire in Libya and an end to Western-led coalition airstrikes and naval blockades of the North African state.
On Saturday, the United States praised the African Union for convening a conference of world powers in Addis Ababa on Friday to discuss the situation in Libya. A State Department spokesman said the AU has a key role to play in resolving the crisis.
The conference called for a democratic transition period leading to elections in Libya. Libyan officials were barred from the conference when a Libyan rebel group failed to attend.
fuente: http://www.voanews.com/
Comentarios