TRIPOLI/BIN JAWAD – Libyan government forces unleashed fierce attacks on the western rebel stronghold of Zawiyah on Saturday, while in the east, rebels advanced on Muammar Gaddafi’s home town of Sirte. Fighters in Zawiyah, just 50 kilometres west of Tripoli, repelled two attacks by pro-Gaddafi forces who used tanks and artillery. Dozens of rebels armed with rifles manned rooftops, watching nearby streets from behind piles of sandbags. Roads and side streets were barricaded with rebel checkpoints.
“After the morning attack they attacked again. They entered from the west and started shooting rockets at buildings in the square,” rebel spokesman Youssef Shagan said by telephone.
A doctor in Zawiyah said at least 30 people, mostly civilians, had been killed during fighting in the day, bringing to at least 60 the death toll from two days of battles.
“We captured 3 APCs, two tanks and one pick-up after an hour and a half of fighting,” spokesman Shagan told Reuters after the first battle. Rebels in eastern Libya said they were pushing further west after driving forces loyal to Gaddafi from the oil town of Ras Lanuf on Friday.
They took the town of Bin Jawad, some 525 km east of Tripoli, and were moving on towards Sirte, Gaddafi’s heavily guarded home town, 160 km away. In Bin Jawad, rebels played the pre-Gaddafi monarchist national anthem over a loudspeaker.
